UNIVERSITY  OF 

ILLIM"^  '  'BRARY 

AT  URCA       -  .AMPA1GN 

ILL  HIST.  SURVEY 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


OF    THE 


AMERICAS  IRISH  II  CHICAGO 


EDITED  BY 


CHARLES   FFRENCH. 


WITH  STEEL  AND  OTHER  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


CHICAGO  AND  NEW  YORK: 
AMERICAN  BIOGRAPHICAL  PUBLISHING  Co. 

1897.        * 


H.  C.  COOPER,  JR.,  &  CO., 

CHICAGO. 


/  /  L  .  U 


INTRODUCTION. 


It  is,  surely,  not  an  unimportant  contribution  to  the  history 
which  is  of  the  present  and  the  future,  that  there  should  be  put  in 
enduring  form  something  of  the  story  of  the  American  Irish  who 
have  taken  such  a  noble  part  in  making  one  of  the  greatest  cities  of 
one  of  the  greatest  nations.  What  part  Irishmen,  or  those  of  Irish 
descent,  h'ave  borne  in  building  up  the  vast  central  city  of  the  Ameri- 
can continent  is  generally  understood,  but  the  biographies  of  those 
who  have  accomplished  most  have  never  yet  appeared  in  a  form 
which  could  be  permanent.  That  a  collection  of  such  biographies  is 
most  desirable  is  believed  by  the  publishers ;  and  it  is  felt,  as  well, 
that  such  a  book  will  be  welcomed  by  Irishmen,  and  native  Ameri- 
cans scarcely  less,  and  that  it  will  be  accepted  as  a  good  part  of  pres- 
ent local  history.  To  living  Irishmen  it  may  not  seem  of  as  much 
importance  as  it  will  to  their  children  and  grandchildren,  who  will, 
because  of  it,  be  better  enabled  to  appreciate  what  the  men  of  to-day 
are  doing  and  have  done. 

What  one  potent  group  has  accomplished  in  advancing  the 
growth  in  all  telling  ways  of  one  of  the  regnant  cities  of  the  world 
will  be  always  matter  of  interest,  and  a  greater  interest  will  come 
when  those  who  read  in  the  future  find  what  will  enable  them  to 
learn  something  of  the  personality  of  men  who  did  well  in  a  field 
of  effort  where  results  have  surpassed  all  that  has  come,  within 
such  limit  of  time,  in  the  whole  world's  history. 

The  one  end  sought  in  gathering  this  series  of  biographies  has 
been  to  secure  but  plain  outlines  of  the  histories  of  those  thus 
grouped  together.  Nothing  appeal's  which  is  npt  an  account  made 
curt  and  truthful.  The  work  is  not  intended  to  be  of  the  laudatory 


4  INTRODUCTION. 

class  of  biographical  publications,  but  of  the  strictly  unembellished 
type,  containing  only  matter  which  may  not  be  questioned.  It  is 
not  insisted  that  the  work  is  fully  comprehensive — the  production 
of  such  a  volume  would  be  a  feat  extremely  difficult — but  it  is 
thought  that  it  occupies,  honestly  and  effectively,  a  place  of  im- 
portance in  a  field  which  has  not  heretofore  been  occupied.  It 
is  hoped  and  believed  that  not  Irishmen  alone  will  everywhere 
appreciate  its  quality,  but  that  Chicagoans  and  Americans  gener- 
ally will  count  it  something  of  value  and  importance,  an  addition 
to  the  literature  of  the  place  and  time. 

STANLEY   WATERLOO. 


mt, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


OF   THE 


AMERICAN  IRISH  IN  CHICAGO. 


MOST  REV.  PATRICK  A.  FEEHAN,  D.  D. 

Noble  representative  of  a  great  race,  a  man  loved  and  honored, 
an  ecclesiastic  revered  and  respected  by  all  sections  of  the  com- 
munity, liberal  uatured,  broad  minded,  generous,  kindly  and  free, 
full  of  understanding  of  special  circumstances  and  conditions,  and 
with  a  heart  open  in  sympathy  to  every  necessity,  Most  Rev.  Pat- 
rick A.  Feehan,  D.  D.,  Archbishop  of  Chicago,  is  an  Irishman  and 
an  American  whom  Americans  as  well  as  Irishmen  must  delight 
to  honor. 

Archbishop  Feehan  was  born  in  the  County  of  Tipperary,  Ire- 
land, on  August  29th,  1829,  the  son  of  Patrick  and  Judith  (Cooney) 
Feehan.  In  early  childhood  he  was  carefully  trained  by  his  good 
parents  and  the  best  teachers  within  reach.  In  his  sixteenth  year 
he  was  sent  to  the  Ecclesiastical  Seminary  at  Castleknock,  and  two 
years  later  to  St.  Patrick's  College,  Maynooth,  in  both  of  which 
institutions  he  was  a  distinguished  student.  In  1852,  though  en- 


6  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

titled  to  a  place  on  the  Dunboyne  establishment,  he  preferred  to 
enter  at  once  upon  the  duties  of  the  priesthood,  and  selected  the 
Archdiocese  of  St  Louis  as  the  scene  of  his  future  labors.  Or- 
dained priest  on  November  1st,  1852,  until  July,  1853,  he  taught  in 
the  Ecclesiastical  Seminary  and  preached  in  the  Cathedral,  al- 
ternately with  Most  Rev.  Peter  R.  Kenrick,  D.  D.,  Archbishop  of  St. 
Louis,  and  two  young  priests  now  in  the  Episcopacy — Most.  Rev. 
John  Hennessey,  D.  D.,  Archbishop  of  Dubuque,  and  Most  Rev. 
Patrick  J.  Ryan,  D.  D.,  Archbishop  of  Philadelphia.  In  July,  1853, 
he  was  appointed  assistant  at  St.  John's  Church,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 
About  this  time  a  terrible  cholera  epidemic  raged  in  the  city,  which 
called  forth  all  the  self-sacrifice  of  the  devoted  young  priest.  Days 
and  nights  were  spent  in  administering  consolation  to  the  poor 
sufferers,  sometimes  even  preparing  them  for  burial  where  friends 
and  kindred  deserted  them.  Appointed  president  of  the  Ecclesi- 
astical Seminary  in  July,  1854,  he  filled  this  office  with  great  dis- 
tinction until  July,  1858,  when  he  was  appointed  pastor  of  St. 
Michael's  Church,  St  Louis.  A  year  later  he  was  promoted  to  the 
pastorate  of  the  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception,  St.  Louis, 
where  he  continued  until  November  1st,  1865,  when  he  was  conse- 
crated Bishop  of  Nashville,  Tejm.  To  his  new  home  he  was  accom- 
panied by  Rev.  Fathers  Riordon  and  Walsh,  of  St.  Louis,  who  died 
of  yellow  fever  in  1878.  The  first  years  were  ones  of  great  labor. 
By  his  untiring  efforts  and  constant  attention  to  duty  he  brought 
the  people  to  the  Sacraments,  he  instructed  and  prepared  the  chil- 
dren for  First  Communion  and  Confirmation,  and  by  his  great  busi- 
ness talent  won  the  confidence  of  public  men.  lie  was  most  as- 
siduous in  preaching  and  instructing  the  people  and  many  new 
Catholics  were  received  into  the  Church,  some  of  whom  were  among 
the  old  settlers  and  wealthy  citizens.  When  Dr.  Feehan  went  to 
the  Diocese  of  Nashville  he  found  only  a  few  priests,  most  of  them 
being  Dominican  Fathers,  a  convent  of  Sisters  in  Memphis,  an 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN   CHICAGO.  7 

academy  and  an  orphan  asylum  conducted  by  Sisters  of  St.  Dom- 
inic, near  Nashville.  The  academy  was  so  heavily  in  debt  that 
it.  was  sold  at  auction  soon  after  Bishop  Feehau's  arrival.  He. 
bought  it  in  for  the  Sisters,  thus  securing  their  lasting  gratitude 
and  preventing  great  loss  for  the  Catholic  community.  In  August, 
18<56,  the  cholera  made  its  appearance  in  Nashville  and  during  its 
continuanci  Bishop  Feehan  labored  unceasingly  to  console  the  sick 
and  dying.  At  the  close  of  the  epidemic  he  purchased  a  home  on 
one  of  the  finest  sites  of  the  city  and  established  a  community  of  the 
Sinters  of  Mercy  from  Providence,  B.  I.  The  yellow  fever  visited 
.Memphis  in  1877  and  1878,  to  which  twenty-three  priests  fell  mar- 
tyrs. The  full  extent  of  this  calamity  will  be  realized  when  it 
is  known  that  there  were  less  than  thirty  priests  in  the  whole  State 
of  Tennessee  at  the  time.  The  diocese  was  soon  again  enjoying 
health  and  prosperity,  when  the  news  came  from  Rome  that  Dr. 
Feehan  had  been  appointed  First  Archbishop  of  Chicago. 

The  death  of  Right  Rev.  Thomas  Foley,  D.  D.,  administrator  of 
Chicago,  caused  a  vacancy  difficult  to  fill.  Archbishop  Feehan  left 
Nashville  amid  the  tears  and  blessings  of  his  many  friends  and 
reached  Chicago  on  September  10th,  1880.  His  arrival  was  the 
occasion  of  a  grand  demonstration.  The  Archdiocese  of  Chicago, 
then,  as  now,  comprised  eighteen  counties  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  State  of  Illinois.  The  wants  of  the  Catholics  were  zealously  at- 
tended to  by  one  hundred  and  eighty  priests  who  had  charge  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  churches.  Archbishop  Feehan  found  that 
although  his  predecessors  had  done  much  to  meet  the  needs  of  the 
times,  still  the  Great  Fire  had  destroyed  nearly  all  the  Catholic 
structures  of  any  importance  in  the  City  of  Chicago,  and  new 
churches  could  scarcely  be  erected  to  keep  pace  with  the  rapid 
growth  of  population.  Under  the  administration  of  Archbishop 
Feehan,  one  hundred  and  two  churches  have  been  erected  in  the 
archdiocese  during  the  past  seventeen  years,  new  parochial  schools 


8  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 

have  been  built  and  old  ones  enlarged,  so  that  over  sixty  thousand 
children  are  now  educated  in  these  structures.  The  great  financial 
interests  of  the  archdiocese  have  been  carefully  attended  to,  and 
the  archdiocese  of  Chicago  is  one  of  the  richest  and  most  solvent 
in  the  United  States.  Homes  for  the  aged,  hospitals  for  the  sick, 
Houses  of  Providence  for  young  women,  orphan  asylums,  foundling 
asylums,  all  attest  the  far-seeing  care  of  Dr.  Feehan  to  meet  the 
many  needs  of  a  large  center  of  population,  while  his  encourage- 
ment of  a  school  for  deaf  mutes,  his  wise  direction  of  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Chicago  Industrial  School  for  Girls  and  St.  Mary's 
Training  School  for  Boys  at  Feehanville,  deserve  lasting  gratitude. 
Indeed  there  is  no  section  of  the  city  or  of  the  Archdiocese  of  Chi- 
cago that  has  not  felt  his  zeal  for  religious  charity  and  Christian 
education,  and  here  we  may  be  pardoned  for  giving  a  brief  list  of 
some  of  the  principal  churches,  schools  and  Eleemosynary  institu- 
tions that  have  been  erected  since  he  became  Archbishop  and  that 
will  always  stand  as  monuments  of  his  munificence  and  desire  to 
have  the  ardent  faith  of  his  devoted  and  liberal  people  appear  even 
in  material  structures: 

Churches — St.  Adalbert's,  St.  Alphousus',  St.  Augustine's,  St. 
Bernard's  (first  marble  church  ever  built  in  Chicago),  St  Cecilia's, 
St.  Charles  Borromeo's,  St.  Elizabeth's,  St.  George's,  The  Assump- 
tion, St.  Gabriel's,  Holy  Angels,  St.  Jarlath's,  St.  John  Cantius,  St. 
Malachy's,  St.  Mary's  of  Perpetual  Help,  St.  Martin's,  St  Monica's 
(for  colored  people),  The  Nativity,  St.  Pius's,  St.  Thomas',  St.  Vin- 
cent's, St.  Patrick's  (Amboy),  St.  James'  (Belvidere),  St.  Mary's 
(Freeport),  St.  Joseph's  (Harvard),  St.  John  the  Baptist's  (Johns- 
burg),  St.  Patrick's  (Kankakee),  St.  Patrick's  (Lemont),  St.  Mary's 
(Oregon),  St.  Patrick's  (Rochelle),  St.  Mary's  (Rockford),  St.  Rose's 
(Wilmington). 

Schools— De  La  Salle  Institute,  St.  Patrick's  Academy,  Loretto 
Academy  (Joliet),  St.  Francis  Academy  (Joliet),  Our  Lady  of  Mount 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  9 

C-annel  Academy,  Loretto  Convent  (Englewood),  Normal   School 
(Irving  Park),  St.  Agatha's  Academy,  The  Josephinum. 

Eleemosynary  Institutions  —  St.  Elizabeth's  Hospital,  Mercy 
Hospital  (large  additions),  St.  Joseph's  Hospital  (rebuilt),  Alexian 
Brothers  Hospital,  The  Ephpheta  School  for  Deaf,  Houses  of  Prov- 
idence for  young  girls  out  of  place,  on  the  north,  south  and  west 
sides  of  the  city;  Homes  for  the' Aged,  on  the  north  and  south  sides; 
Chicago  Industrial  School  for  girls,  St.  Mary's  Industrial  School 
for  boys  (Feehanville),  News  Boys'  Home,  Boys'  Orphan  Asylum 
(Irving  Park). 

In  a  word,  Archbishop  Feehan  has  not  only  cared  for  every  need 
for  the  living,  he  has  also  provided  resting  places  for  the  dead  in 
Mount  Olivet  Cemetery,  Sancta  Maria  Cemetery,  and  a  new  ceme- 
tery soon  to  be  opened  on  the  west  side.  He  resides  in  a  magnificent 
residence,  built  by  himself,  near  Lake  Michigan  and  fronting  on 
Lincoln  Park,  and  is  now  building  a  summer  villa  at  Feehanville. 

As  a  legislator,  Archbishop  Feehan  has  been  prudent  and  con- 
servative. He  participated  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Second  Ple- 
nary Council  of  Baltimore,  in  1866;  he  took  an  active  part  in  the 
General  Council  of  the  Vatican;  he  was  one  of  those  summoned  to 
Rome  to  formulate  the  Schemata  of  the  Third  Council  of  Baltimore, 
and  deserves  great  credit  for  the  part  taken  in  the  wise  delibera- 
tions of  that  body.  After  the  approval  of  the  decrees  at  Rome  he 
held  a  Synod  making  them  applicable  to  the  Archdiocese  of  Chi- 
cago. 

Archbishop  Feehan  cannot  be  treated  with  justice  in  the  limits 
of  a  necessarily  brief  biography.  He  has  never  made  a  mistake  in 
the  guidance  of  the  religious  affairs  of  the  archdiocese,  and  this 
will  be  appreciated  when  it  is  known  that  the  Catholics  of  Chi- 
cago are  ministered  to  in  twelve  different  languages  and  that  all 
are  unanimous  in  proclaiming  his  wisdom  and  his  fairness  to  each 
and  every  member  of  the  Church.  He  is  justly  popular  with  Cath- 


10  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

olics.  He  has  been  honored  by  his  people  on  various  occasions, 
notably  on  his  return  from  Rome  preparatory  to  the  Third  Council 
of  Baltimore  and  on  the  occasion  of  his  Silver  Jubilee,  in  the  fall 
of  1890.  The  celebration  of  his  Silver  Jubilee  lasted  for  nearly  a 
week  and  was  the  occasion  of  one  of  the  largest  parades  ever  wit- 
nessed on  the  streets  of  Chicago. 

As  Metropolitan,  Archbishop  Feehaii  has  the  whole  State  of  Illi- 
nois under  his  charge,  with  a  Catholic  population  of  over  a  million. 
The  Archdiocese  of  Chicago  over  which  he  is  immediately  interested 
has  a  Catholic  population  of  over  seven  hundred  thousand  who  at- 
tend two  hundred  and  sixty-two  churches  and  are  ministered  to  by 
four  hundred  and  thirty  priests. 


JOHN   M.  SMYTH. 


Equally  a«  manufacturer,  merchant,  and  one  identified  with  po- 
litical and  public  affairs,  John  M.  Smyth  is  justly  regarded  as  a 
thoroughly  representative  man.  Personally  he  unites  an  old  coun- 
try lineage  with  the  development  and  energy  characteristic  of  the 
new  world. 

The  parents  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Michael  K.  Smyth  and 
Bridget  (McDonnell)  Smyth,  left  Ireland  for  America  in  the  summer 
of  1843,  and  John  M.  Smyth  was  born  at  sea  on  the  6th  of  July  of 
that  year.  The  family  came  from  Balliua,  County  Mayo,  where  their 
people  had  long  been  settled,  and  where  Mr.  Michael  K.  Smyth  wax  a 
surveyor.  Their  first  residence  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  wras  in 
Quebec,  but  later  they  removed  to  Montreal,  in  which  city  they  lived 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  13 

for  live  years,  settling  iu  Chicago  in  1S48.  lu  the  now  historic  days 
when  early  Chicago  was  mapped  out,  Mr.  Michael  K.  Smyth  sur- 
veyed lands  for  that  notable  pioneer  real  estate  owner,  William  li. 
Ogden,  the  first  mayor  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Smyth,  like  many  others  in 
those  early  days,  had  his  opportunities  of  becoming  wealthy  by  the 
acquisition  of  laud,  subsequently  very  valuable,  but  to  be  had  then 
for  comparatively  trifling;  considerations.  For  instance,  he  was 
offered  once  for  certain  services,  the  Erie  square  block  of  laud  be- 
i  ween  Kinzie  and  Michigan, Market  and  Franklin, afterwards  easily 
worth  1400,000,  but  which  he  declined  to  accept  because  it  would 
have  taken  a  year  of  labor  and  some  slight  cost  to  have  leveled  a 
high  bank  upon  it,  removed  refuse  and  put  generally  into  market- 
able shape.  Meantime,  while  the  elder  Smyth  was  taking  a  hand  in 
making  the  ground  plan  of  the  future  World's  Fair  City,young  John 
M.  was  attending  the  renowned  "Kinzie"  school,  known  among  the 
youth  of  that  time  as  "WilderV  from  the  name  of  the  principal, 
then  responsible  for  shaping  and  developing  the  young  ideas.  Hav- 
ing completed  school  terms  sufficiently  well  to  equip  himself  with  a 
sound  general  education,  he  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account, 
lie  chose  the  typographic  art  and  that  section  of  it  represented  in 
the  composition  rooms  of  a  daily  newspaper.  Mr.  Smyth  was  em- 
ployed successively  upon  the  early  newspapers  of  Chicago:  the 
"Morning  Herald;"  the  Chicago  "Democrat,"  when  the  historic  pa- 
per was  owned  by  that  representative  citizen,  Mayor  Weutworth, 
"Long  John,"  and  lastly  on  the  "Press  and  Tribune,"  now  the 
"Tribune." 

Mr.  Smyth,  when  in  a  leisure  hour,  likes  nothing  better  than  to 
dwell  upon  the  details  of  the  early  newspaper  life  and  business  of 
Chicago;  that  ej>och  in  Chicago  when  James  W.  Sheahan  started 
"The  Times"  iSheahan  &  Price),  afterwards  purchased  by  the  Hon. 
Cyrus  II.  McCormick,  and  subsequently  advanced  to  a  conspicuous 
place  in  modern  daily  journalism  by  the  distinguished  editor,  Wil- 


14  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

bur  F.  Storey.  But  the  comparatively  unremurierative  business  of 
the  printer  and  publisher  did  not  satisfy  John  M.  Smyth. 

lie  embarked  in  business  for  himself  in  1867,  opening  a  furniture 
store  at  92  West  Madison  Street.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the 
business  that  has  since  grown  to  such  immense  proportions  and 
has  made  the  name  of  its  proprietor  almost  a  household  word  in 
every  part  of  the  city.  To  accommodate  his  increasing  business,  he 
removed  his  establishment  in  1880  to  its  present  location,  where  he 
greatly  extended  and  enlarged  the  operations  of  the  establishment. 
The  store  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  April,  1891,  but  Mr.  Smyth  im- 
mediately rebuilt  on  the  same  site,  completing  and  occupying,  by 
November  1st  of  the  same  year,  the  largest  and  handsomest  business 
block  on  the  West  Side.  It  is  a  business  which  now  embraces  liter- 
ally thousands  of  individual  accounts,  and  the  fair  and  just  manage- 
ment of  the  great  time  credit  department  has  deservedly  won  for 
John  M.  Smyth  thousands  upon  thousands  of  friends  and  well  wish- 
ers in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Smyth  was  sent  to  the  City  Council  in  1878,  re-elected  as  Al- 
derman until  1882,  and  has  twice  served  as  a  Presidential  Elector  in 
the  successful  campaign  for  Garfield  in  1880,  and  also  upon  the 
Elaine  ticket.  He  managed  the  latter  campaign,  in  Chicago  and 
Cook  County  in  1884  and  also  the  Republican  campaigns  of  1894  and 
1896.  Mayor  Hempstead  Washburne  appointed  him  a  member  of 
the  Library  Board  in  1892,  and  from  that  date  until  1895  Mr.  Smyth 
served  the  Library  upon  its  Finance  committee.  In  politics  he  has 
ever  been  a  consistent  Republican,  and  as  member  and  chairman  of 
the  County  Central  Republican  Committee,  has  always  been  active 
in  that  great  political  party. 

With  all  this,  he  is  much  more  of  a  family  and  domestic  man 
than  a  political  aspirant,  and  cares  most  to  live  simply  within  the 
conventional  requirements  of  the  responsible  citizen.  Mr.  Smyth 
married  June  14th,  1871,  Miss  Jane  A.  Hand,  and  eight  children. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  15 

three  sons  and  five  daughters,  blessed  a  union  which  led  to  an  ex- 
ceptionally happy  domestic  life.  The  best  exemplification  of  his 
energy  and  success  as  a  Chicago  business  man,  is  found  in  the  ac- 
complishment of  certainly  the  greatest  business  in  his  special  direc- 
1  ion  ever  known  in  the  West. 


MORTIMER  J.  SCANLAN. 

Mortimer  J.  Scanlan,  a  member  of  the  well  known  firm  of  Jo- 
seph J.  Duffy,  contractor,  and  a  native  of  Chicago,  where  he  was 
born  March  18th,  1862,  is  another  of  that  notable  family  that  have 
for  the  last  fifty  years  been  prominent  factors  in  the  development 
and  growth  of  this  city.  His  father,  Timothy  Scanlan,  a  native  of 
County  Limerick,  Ireland,  emigrated  to  Boston,  Mass.,  in  1848,  and 
came  to  Chicago  in  1851,  where  he  followed  the  profession  of  marine 
and  stationary  engineer.  Still  active,  notwithstanding  the  weight 
of  years,  well  preserved  and  prominent  in  the  Catholic  Order  of 
Foresters  and  a  number  of  other  organizations,  he  resides  in  the 
city  he  chose  as  his  permanent  home,  and  with  whose  uprising  and 
well-being  he  and  his  family  have  had  so  much  to  do.  His  wife, 
Hannah,  mother  of  Mortimer,  came  from  Limerick  to  Chicago  in 
1849,  and  they  were  married  the  same  year. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  this  city,  afterwards  entering  the  employ  of  the%C.,  R. 
I.  &  P.  R.  R.  as  clerk,  a  position  he  retained  for  seven  years. 
Anxious  to  be  his  own  master,  he  then  started  in  the  coal  business 
on  the  west  side,  and  in  this  unvarying  success  ever  from  the  com- 
mencement has  been  his  portion.  In  1891  and  1892  he  was  elected 
West  Town  Clerk  of  the  City  of  Chicago,  and  in  1894  Assessor  of 


16  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 

the  West  Town.  In  1895  he  associated  himself  with  Joseph  J. 
Duffy  in  the  contracting  business,  and  up  to  the  present  time  has 
been  chiefly  engaged  in  building  the  four  mile  water  tunnel,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Joseph  J.  Duffy. 

Mr.  Scanlan  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  League  and  of  the 
Knights  of  Columbus.  In  religion  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  in 
his  political  affiliations  he  is  a  Democrat,  having  always  taken  an 
active  interest  in  his  party's  growth  and  development.  In  1891 
he  married  Miss  Nellie  Turner  of  Chicago,  and  they  have  three 
children,  all  girls. 

Mr.  Scanlan  is  a  man  of  fine  physique,  six  feet  two  in  height, 
well  proportioned  and  of  vigorous  constitution.  lie  was  always 
fond  of  athletic  sports,  making  quite  a  mark  as  a  baseball  player, 
especially  in  the  City  League  and  Board  of  Trade  nines,  and  still 
attends  a  gymnasium.  His  recreation  is  not  limited,  however,  to 
the  robust  and  physical,  for  like  most  of  the  Scajilan  family  he 
is  a  great  lover  of  music,  and  withal  a  man  of  courteous  and  genial 
disposition,  and  as  may  be  judged  from  the  political  position  to 
which  he  has  been  elected,  has  hosts  of  warm  and  esteeming 
friends. 


ARTHUR    DIXON. 


Arthur  Dixon  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  highly  re- 
spected citizens  of  Chicago.  His  private  character  is  one  to  be 
loved  and  admired  and  as  a  public  man  his  record  is  without  blem- 
ish.  His  life  has  been  devoted  to  pure  motives  and  manly  princi- 
ples, and  by  following  a  fixed  purpose  to  make  the  most  and  best 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  19 

of  himself,  he  has  overcome  all  difficulties  and  risen  to  ;i  place  of 
influence  and  honor  among  public-spirited  men. 

Mr.  Dixon  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  County  Fermanagh, 
of  Scotch  Irish  descent.  His  parents,  Arthur  and  Jane  Allen" 
Dixon,  had  four  sons  and  one  daughter.  Arthur  is  the  only  surviv- 
ing son.  His  father,  a  farmer  and  country  school  teacher,  was  a 
man  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence,  who  also  practiced  with 
considerable  success  as  a  country  attorney.  From  his  parents  he 
inherited  many  sterling  traits  of  character,  that  have  signally 
characterized  his  life.  When  a  youth  of  eighteen  he  was  attracted 
by  the  advantages  and  opportunities  of  the  new  world  and  came 
first  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  spent  a  short  time  in  visiting  friends. 
OP  July  4th,  1858,  Arthur  went  to  Pittsburgh  and  there  passed 
t  hree  years  in  the  nursery  business,  learning  tree  grafting  and 
planting.  In  1861  Mr.  Dixon  became  identified  with  the  interests 
of  the  Garden  City  and  entered  upon  his  business  career  as  a  clerk 
in  the  grocery  store  of  Q.  C.  Cook,  bat  soon  after  began  business  on 
his  own  account,  in  a  small  retail  grocery,  which  he  successfully 
conducted  for  two  years.  His  connection  with  his  present  indus- 
try began  about  1863,  and  was  occasioned  by  a  seeming  accident. 
In  payment  of  a  grocery  debt  he  was  obliged  to  take  a  team  and 
wagon  and  with  this  he  began  a  general  teaming  business  at  No. 
299  Wells  Street,  now  Fifth  Avenue.  From  this  beginning  pros- 
perity has  attended  the  undertaking,  until  now,  1897,  it  is  the 
largest  transferring  company  west  of  New  York. 

His  success  has  come  through  close  attention,  earnest  effort, 
perseverance,  good  management,  and  honorable  dealing.  Mr.  Dix- 
011  has  been  identified  with  various  movements  which  have  con- 
tributed to  the  city's  welfare  and  progress  during  the  past  thirty 
years.  In  the  spring  of  1867  Arthur  Dixon  was  first  elected  Alder- 
man from  the  Second  Ward  of  Chicago,  on  the  same  ticket  with  ex- 
Mayor  Rice.  From  that  time  until  April,  1891,  when  he  voluntarily 


20  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP   THE 

declined  to  longer  remain  a  member  of  the  City  Council,  he  was  re- 
elected  with  increased  majorities  and  sometimes  without  opposi- 
tion, and  has  the  honor  of  having  served  longer  than  any  other 
Alderman  of  Chicago.  He  has  been  called  the  "Nestor  of  alder- 
men" and  "Watch  Dog  of  the  City  Treasury."  On  June  1,  1891, 
Mr.  Dixon  was  presented  by  the  City  of  Chicago  with  the  following 
resolutions  richly  bound  and  superbly  illumined  and  engrossed. 
This  volume  is  prized  as  one  of  his  richest  treasures: 

At  a  regular  meeting  of  the  City  Council  of  the  City  of  Chicago, 
held  April  27th,  1891,  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions  en- 
dorsing the  official  actions  of  Alderman  Dixon  were  unanimously 
adopted : 

Whereas,  The  City  Council  of  the  City  of  Chicago  is  about  to 
lose  the  services  of  its  oldest  and  best  known  member  through  his 
voluntary  and  we  hope  temporary  retirement  from  the  political 
field  of  action, 

Resolved,  That  we,  the  colleagues,  some  of  many  years,  others 
of  short  acquaintance,  tender  to  Alderman  Dixon  on  this  occasion 
the  expression  of  our  heartiest  good  wishes  for  his  future,  and  also 
the  expression  of  our  appreciation  of  the  loss  the  council  and  the 
city  sustain  through  his  withdrawal  from  our  municipal  legisla- 
ture. 

Resolved,  That  we  place  on  record  our  conviction  of  his  great 
public  worth,  his  zeal  for  honest  and  economical  government,  his 
sincere  interest  in  the  cause  of  the  taxpayers  and  his  undoubted 
and  unquestioned  ability  in  every  position  assigned  to  him;  and 
further,  we  record  the  expression  of  our  hope  that  his  zeal,  his 
earnestness  and  ability  may  soon  be  utilized  for  the  public  in  some 
new  capacity;  and  be  it  further 

Resolved,  That  the  city  clerk  be  and  is  hereby  directed  to 
spread  this  preamble  and  the  resolutions  upon  the  records  of  the 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  21 

council,  and  to  present  to  Alderman  Arthur  Dixon  a  suitably  en- 
graved copy  of  the  same. 

Hempstead  Washburne,  Mayor. 

Jas.  B.  B.  Van  Cleave,  City  Clerk. 

In  1874  Mr.  Dixon  was  chosen  president  of  the  City  Council  and 
was  re-elected  to  that  place  for  six  years.  At  various  times  he 
served  as  chairman  of  the  finance  and  other  important  commit- 
tees. As  a  member  of  the  City  Council,  Mr.  Dixon  was  a  recognized 
leader  in  debate,  a  practiced  parliamentarian,  and  an  authority  on 
the  interpretation  of  the  powers  and  provisions  of  the  city  charter. 
He  advocated,  among  other  important  measures,  that  of  the  city 
owning  her  own  gas  plant,  of  high  water  pressure,  building  sewers 
by  special  assessments,  the  creation  of  a  public  library,  the  annex- 
ation of  the  suburbs,  the  building  of  viaducts  over  railway  cross- 
ings, the  drainage  law,  the  city's  interest  upon  her  public  fund, 
the  extension  of  fire  limits.  He  was  appointed  by  the  mayor  one  of 
the  executive  committee  of  arrangements  for  the  World's  Colum- 
bian Exposition,  and  was  also  one  of  the  committee  that  was  in- 
strumental in  arranging  and  passing  the  ordinance  providing  for 
the  loan  of  five  million  dollars  for  the  Exposition.  In  April,  1892, 
Mr.  Dixon  was  elected  a  Director  of  the  World's  Columbian  Di- 
rectory and  his  services  and  counsels  in  that  capacity  were  invalu- 
able in  the  prosecution  of  this  enormous  enterprise.  Mr.  Dixon 
has  been  a  member  of  city  and  county  Republican  central  com- 
mittees for  more  than  thirty  years,  and  has  frequently  served  as 
chairman  of  the  same. 

In  1868  he  was  the  first  president  of  the  Irish  Republican  or- 
ganization in  Chicago,  and  the  following  year  was  president  of 
the  National  Irish  Republican  Convention,  held  in  Chicago,  and 
was  treasurer  of  that  organization.  He  was  also  elected  president 
of  the  Irish  Literary  Society  of  Chicago. 

Mr.  Dixon  represented  the  First  Senatorial    District    in    the 

2 


22  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

Twenty-seventh  General  Assembly  of  Illinois,  and  as  a  member 
of  that  body  had  charge  of  measures  and  rendered  services  of  great 
value  to  the  City  of  Chicago.  Among  the  bills  introduced  by  him 
which  were  passed  by  the  Legislature  was  one  providing  for  the 
location  of  the  Chicago  Public  Library,  the  Drainage  Canal,  the 
one  authorizing  the  mill  tax  and  special  assessment. 

He  was  a  delegate  to  the  National  Republican  Convention  which 
nominated  James  Garfleld  for  the  Presidency.  In  all  his  public 
career  Mr.  Dixon  has  maintained  a  character  above  reproach  and 
all  his  actions  have  been  straightforward,  business  like  and  in 
the  interest  of  good  government.  Mr.  Dixon  is  a  member  of  the 
Union  League,  Hamilton  and  Sheridan  clubs,  having  been  presi- 
dent of  the  Hamilton.  He  is  also  director  in  the  Metropolitan  Na- 
tional Bank,  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  the  Consolidated 
Stone  Company,  and  president  of  the  Arthur  Dixon  Transfer  Com- 
pany. 

In  1862  Mr.  Dixon  was  married  to  Miss  Ann  Carson  of  Pitts- 
burgh, Pa.,  to  whom  fourteen  children  have  been  born,  thirte^ 
of  whom  are  now  living.  Domestic  in  his  tastes  and  home  loving, 
he  finds  no  place  as  attractive  as  his  fireside,  and  there,  in  the 
midst  of  the  estimable  wife  and  children,  he  passes  his  happiest 
hours.  He  is  a  man  of  strictly  temperate  habits,  of  steadfast  loy- 
alty, liberal,  broad-minded,  charitable,  and  one  of  the  most  ap- 
proachable of  men.  Fidelity  to  duty  has  ever  been  one  of  his  most 
marked  characteristics  and  has  made  him  the  valued  citizen,  the 
honorable  business  man,  and  the  esteemed  friend  of  to-day. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  23 


OSCAR  B.  MCGLASSON. 

Oscar  B.  McGlasson,  of  the  law  firm  of  McGlasson  &  Beitler, 
though  still  so  young  a  man,  has  already  attained  an  enviable 
degree  of  prominence  among  the  legal  fraternity  of  Chicago.  Born 
in  Scott  County,  Illinois,  May  27th,  1866,  he  come,*  of  that  sterling- 
Scotch  Irish  ancestry  that  has  given  America  so  many  brilliant, 
successful  and  eminently  useful  citizens.  His  father  was  Francis 
M.  McGlasson,  some  of  whose  family  had  settled  in  Virginia  as  far 
back  as  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and  his  grandfather, 
Scott  McGlasson,  settled  in  Illinois  in  1811,  where  his  son,  Fran- 
cis M.,  was  clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  County  for  several 
terms,  and  is  a  man  of  considerable  prominence  in  local  politics. 
His  mother  was  Mary  A.  Adams,  daughter  of  Absolorn  Adams,  of 
Lexington,  Kentucky. 

Oscar  B.  McGlasson,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  educated  at 
the  Winchester  High  School  until  he  entered  Pierce's  College  at 
Keokuk,  Iowa,  whence  he  graduated  in  1885.  He  then  commenced 
the  study  of  law  in  the  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor,  and 
in  1888  received  the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  being  in  the  same  year  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  of  Michigan  and  Illinois.  In  1889  he  came  to 
Chicago  and  in  connection  with  Mr.  James  Lane  Allen  commenced 
the  practice  of  law/  His.  present  partner,  Mr.  Henry  C.  Beitler, 
and  he  were  classmates  and  friends  at  college  and  since  then  have 
been  at  all  times  closely  associated.  Success  for  the  law  firm  of 
McGlasson  &  Beitler  has  been  won  from  the  very  start,  and  the 
firm  has  advanced  to  a  degree  of  honorable  prominence  but  sel- 
dom attained  in  the  legal  profession  where  both  members  were 
so  comparatively  young  men. 


24  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

Thoroughly  equipped  in  every  way  for  a  successful  lawyer,  not 
only  from  a  thorough  and  comprehensive  legal  training  but  also 
from  the  possession  of  natural  abilities  of  a  very  high  order,  com- 
bined with  a  forceful  and  persevering  character,  Mr.  McGlasson  is 
assured  of  a  high  career,  at  once  a  source  of  pride  to  himself  and 
of  usefulness  to  the  community. 

In  politics  he  is  an  ardent  Democrat,  and  has  upon  many  occa- 
sions, by  his  clear-headed  exposition  of  the  various  points  and  his 
eloquence  of  style  and  delivery,  done  work  which  has  proved  of 
very  great  assistance  and  has  gone  far  towards  advancing  the  prin- 
ciples of  his  party. 

June  12th,  1894,  Mr.  McGlasson  was  married  to  Miss  Nora  A. 
McNeil,  daughter  of  Mr.  Malcolm  McNeil,  of  McNeil  &  Higgins 
Co.,  wholesale  grocers,  of  this  city.  Mr.  McGlasson  does  not  belong 
to  any  societies  or  clubs,  and  therefore  spends  his  evenings  at 
home  in  the  society  of  his  wife. 


JOHN  F.  FINERTY. 


There  is  no  name  in  the  West,  possibly  no  name  throughout  the 
whole  United  States,  dearer  to  the  hearts  of  his  fellow  Irish  Amer- 
icans than  that  representative  Irishman,  true  American,  splendid 
orator,  brilliant  writer,  and  consistent  patriot,  John  F.  Finerty. 

For  over  thirty  years  Mr.  Finerty  has  made  Chicago  his  home, 
and  through  all  that  time  no  one  has  been  more  intimately  con- 
nected with  the  stirring  events  which  have  seen  this  city  fire- 
destroyed,  then  rise  phoenix-like  from  its  ashes  until  the  present 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  27 

wonderful  proportions  have  been  attained.  In  the  active  world  of 
Chicago's  daily  life  are  many  striking  figures,  but  there  is  none  of 
stronger  personality  than  this  popular  leader.  Look  at  the  strong, 
powerful,  earnest  face,  the  brow  that  "thought  has  knit  and  pas- 
sion darkened,"  the  clear  and  fearless  eyes,  the  stalwart  soldier 
figure,  and  the  knowledge  is  forced  upon  you  that  here  is  a  man  who 
has  lived  and  thought,  a  man  whose  life  must  be  full  of  incident, 
one  indeed  who  was  assigned  to  rule  among  his  fellow-men. 

John  F.  Finerty  was  born  in  Galway,  Ireland,  September  10th, 
1846.  He  was  the  son  of  M.  J.  Finerty,  then  prominent  in  the 
Young  Ireland  school  of  politics,  and  who  had  become  editor  of  the 
Galway  Arindicator  some  six  years  previous  to  the  birth  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  In  the  early  forties,  M.  J.  Finerty  had  mar- 
ried Margaret  Josephine  Flynn,  and  Chicago's  John  F.  Finerty  was 
the  second  son  born  to  the  union.  John  F. — as  he  is  popularly 
called — was  but  two  years  old  when  his  father  died,  at  a  time  when 
his  countrymen  were  wildly  elated  over  the  probable  revolution  in 
Ireland  in  sympathy  with  the  similar  movement  then  in  progress 
in  France.  The  boy  was  brought  up  by  his  uncle,  for  his  mother 
with  all  her  family  left,  when  he  was  quite  a  child,  for  the  Southern 
States,  and  in  such  scenes  and  amid  such  surroundings,  nurtured 
in  English  hate  and  fostered  on  detestation  and  rebellion  against 
its  tyrannous  misrule,  Finerty's  boyhood  years  were  passed.  His 
educational  advantages  were  of  the  best  and  received  partly  in  the 
national  schools,  but  chiefly  from  private  tuition.  History  and 
literature  were  the  subjects  that  most  appealed  to  his  eager  and 
unusually  active  mind,  and  these  have  unquestionably  most  affect- 
ed his  after  career.  He  remained  in  the  County  of  Galway  until  he 
was  eleven,  when  he  was  taken  into  historic  "gallant"  Tipperary, 
and  there  spent  his  later  years  in  Ireland,  within  full  view  of  the 
beautiful  and  noble  Shannon  and  about  two  miles  from  the  base 
of  the  picturesque  Stele  Darragh  Mountains.  Living  in  the  parish 


28  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  the  patriotic  Father  John  Kenyon,  pastor  of  Teniplederry,  the 
strong  sentiments  of  that  well-known  priest  left  an  ineffaceable 
trace  on  the  mind  and  heart  of  the  impulsive  boy,  who  has  since 
done  so  much  to  show  in  practice  what  his  reverend  friend  had  so 
frequently  preached.  When  he  was  fifteen,  about  the  time  that  re- 
gard for  Ireland's  wrongs  was  even  gaining  a  foothold  in  England, 
he  heard  many  eloquent  descriptions  of  what  his  ill-fated  country 
had  suffered  and  was  suffering,  and  this  roused  the  intense  patri- 
otic spirit  that  in  him  was  innate.  Affectionate,  if  wild,  dreams 
pictured  the  proud  old  land  made  free,  and  in  1863  he  became  a 
member  of  the  National  Brotherhood  of  St.  Patrick,  which  was  at 
that  time  organized  in  the  town  of  Nenagh.  During  that  year,  on 
August  15th,  he  delivered  a  very  radical  speech  at  a  meeting  on 
the  summit  of  Slievenomon  mountains,  and  a  few  months  later  an- 
other so-called  rebellious  oration  was  delivered  by  him  at  Ormond 
Stile.  After  this  he  was  obliged  to  leave  the  country  or  be  pros- 
ecuted, which  would  have  entailed  expense  and  annoyance  to  his 
friends,  to  which  he  did  not  feel  like  subjecting  them. 

It  was  in  the  spring  of  1864  that  John  F.  Finerty  arrived  in 
America,  and  as  he  had  the  greatest  desire  for  military  knowledge, 
he  immediately  enrolled  himself  in  the  Ninety-ninth  New  York 
Regiment.  Later  in  the  year  a  large  portion  of  that  regiment  vol- 
unteered for  service  and  he  was  among  the  number  who  served 
until  its  disbandment.  He  saw  much  of  the  siege  operations  around 
Petersburg  and  was  greatly  impressed  by  the  strength  of  the 
United  States  army. 

The  Civil  War  at  an  end,  he  decided  to  settle  permanently  in 
Chicago,  and  came  to  this  city  in  the  winter  of  1864-5.  The  Fenian 
movement  was  then  at  its  height  and  he  became  one  of  the  active 
organizers  of  its  military  sections.  The  Canadian  invasion  in  1866 
found  him  Lieutenant  and  Aide-de-Canip  to  the  late  Brigadier- 
General  William  F.  Lynch,  ex-Colonel  Fifty-eighth  Illinois  Volun- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  29 

teers.  As  soldier  and  newspaper  correspondent  for  the  Chicago 
Republican,  he  went  to  the  front,  but  was  too  late  to  assist  General 
John  O'Neill's  second  rash  and  ill-timed  attack  on  Canada  in  May, 
1870.  He  was  able,  however,  with  the  help  of  other  newspaper 
men,  to  influence  Governor  Hoffman,  of  New  York,  to  send  the 
Fenian  soldiers  back  to  their  homes. 

Mr.  Finerfy  then  became  permanently  connected  with  the  Chi- 
cago daily  press,  his  first  employment  in  that  way  having  been  of 
a  merely  desultory  character  on  the  "Times,"  and  found  a  position 
on  the  regular  staff  of  the  old  "Republican,"  the  precursor  of  the 
"Inter-Ocean."  The  great  fire  shortly  afterwards  destroyed  the 
few  savings  he  had  managed  to  accumulate  and  he  next  went  to 
work  on  the  "Post"  and  "Tribune,"  remaining  with  the  latter  paper 
until  1875,  when  he  was  nominated  on  the  People's  ticket  for  the 
clerkship  of  the  Superior  Court.  He  was  not  successful. 

He  then  connected  himself  with  the  "Chicago  Times,"  and  here 
obtained  the  opportunity  to  show  the  sterling  qualities  of  which 
he  was  possessed.  Through  many  struggles,  various  trials  and 
innumerable  vicissitudes  of  fortune  he  passed,  until  he  stands  to- 
day in  the  front  rank  of  Chicago's  newspaper  writers.  His  versa- 
tility is  really  wonderful,  and  even  among  Irishmen,  who  have  made 
the  press  their  peculiar  stronghold  all  the  world  over,  he  easily 
holds  his  position  among  the  foremost  as  a  ready,  bright,  melliflu- 
ous writer  of  sound  English. 

He  plodded  on,  and  his  various  experiences  among  all  sorts  and 
conditions  of  men  and  women  enabled  him  to  obtain  that  immense 
knowledge  which  now  gives  him  the  power  to  write  with  such  de- 
tail and  moving  strength.  He  is  indeed  a  man  of  the  world,  and 
his  early  training  has  taught  him  never  to  strain  the  spirit  nor  mag- 
nify the  circumstances  merely  for  the  sake  of  effect,  and  by  aiming 
correctly,  to  assure  the  striking  of  his  object. 

In  1876  he  was  with  General  George  Crook's  Big  Horn  and  Yel.- 


30  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

lowstone  expedition  against  the  Sioux  and  Cheyenne  Indians;  he 
fought  at  the  Rosebud  a  week  before  General  Custer  met  his  doom; 
he  crossed  the  Big  Horn  with  Col.  Anson  Mills  and  barely  escaped 
capture.  Afterwards  for  the  "Chicago  Times"  he  accompanied  the 
noted  Sibley  Scout  along  the  base  of  the  Big  Horn  range  and  had 
many  rough  Indian  experiences,  until,  finally,  General  Crook's  main 
body  of  troops  was  reached.  Again,  for  the  "Times,"  he  was  with 
the  march  of  Crook's  column  from  the  Tongue  River  to  the  Yellow- 
stone, then  beyond  the  little  Missouri  and  south  to  the  Black  Hills. 
Other  important  newspaper  work  performed  by  Mr.  Finerty  was  the 
writing  up  of  the  Nicholas-Packard  troubles  in  New  Orleans,  and 
he  also  witnessed  the  actual  termination  of  the  Civil  War  in  the 
evacuation  of  the  Louisiana  State  House,  April  23d,  1877.  He  was 
detailed  to  write  up  the  fierce  Pittsburg  railroad  riots  and  also 
those  of  Chicago.  Later,  in  the  same  year,  he  proceeded  to  the 
Rio  Grande,  entering  Mexico  as  far  as  the  Cedral  Mines,  and  telling 
the  story  of  the  border  troubles  from  both  sides  of  the  boundary 
river.  In  1878  he  was  with  the  American  Commercial  Expedition 
and  sailed  from  New  Orleans  to  Vera  Cruz.  He  visited  various 
points  in  the  Valley  of  Mexico  and  spent  two  months  in  and  around 
the  City  of  Mexico.  Afterwards,  by  ambulance,  he  traveled  through 
the  northern  portion  of  Mexico,  emerging  at  the  Fort  Bless  crossing 
of  the  Rio  Grande  in  April,  1879.  His  next  big  assignment,  was  in 
the  Indian  Territory,  to  describe  the  operations  of  the  boomers  and 
the  United  States  troops  on  the  Canadian  River. 

Young  in  years,  the  brilliant  correspondent  had  now  made  a 
great  reputation  for  himself  in  the  newspaper  world.  As  time 
rolled  on,  he  still  continued  to  display  his  great  powers  in  that 
direction.  He  accompanied  the  late  Professor  E.  R.  Paige  in  his 
exploration  of  the  Bad  Lands  along  the  White  and  Cheyenne  Riv- 
ers, in  Dakota  and  Nebraska;  next  joining  General  Nelson  A. 
Miles  and  accompanying  him  to  the  British  line.  In  September, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  31 

'79,  just  back  from  his  second  Sioux  expedition,  he  was  ordered  to 
join  General  Merritt's  campaign  for  relief  of  survivors  of  the  Thorn- 
burg  massacre  in  the  wilds  of  Colorado,  and  remained  there  until 
the  campaign  was  completed  in  November  of  that  year.  In  1881 
he  wrote  up  the  Canadian  and  Northern  Pacific  Hallways,  the  latter 
as  far  as  the  Pacific  slope.  He  was  later — and  still  working  for  the 
"Chicago  Times,"  for  W.  F.  Storey  had  a  peculiar  liking  for  the 
adventurous  young  Irishman — ordered  to  Arizona,  where  the 
Apaches  were  at  their  old  work.  General  Carr  was  reached  at 
Fort  Apache,  after  a  very  dangerous  journey  on  a  buckboard,  and 
Mr.  Finerty  was  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  second  expedition 
against  the  White  Mountain  renegades.  While,  since  that  time, 
Mr.  Finerty  has  connected  himself  chiefly  with  home  newspaper 
work,  how  little  his  art  has  lost  its  charm  was  demonstrated  in 
the  spring  of  1896,  when  a  series  of  Western  articles  from  his  facile 
pen  appeared  in  the  "Chronicle." 

It  was  in  the  fall  of  1881  that  Mr.  Finerty  began  to  devote  great- 
er attention  to  Irish  politics.  Mr.  Parnell  was  then  at  the  height 
of  his  fame  as  "Ireland's  uncrowned  King."  At  the  orders  of  W. 
E.  Gladstone  and  "Buckshot"  Forster,  the  latter  and  most  of  his 
followers  were  thrown  into  Kilmainhan  Jail,  Dublin.  Mr.  Finerty,. 
in  consultation  with  his  friends  in  this  city,  determined  to  organize 
a  great  Irish  convention  in  Chicago.  It  was  held  November  29th, 
30th,  and  December  1st,  1881,  and  resulted  in  the  foundation  of 
a  fund  of  $500,000  to  carry  on  the  Irish  struggle.  In  many  other 
ways  since,  either  when  the  opportunity  offered  or  he  found  it  pos- 
sible to  make  the  occasion,  the  cause  of  Ireland  has  been  advo- 
cated by  him.  As  an  Irishman,  he  is  a  firm  believer  in  the  nat- 
ural advantages  of  his  country,  and  associates  her  miseries  and 
misfortunes  to  a  government  by  aliens  and  a  land  system  pernicious 
in  its  working  and  cruel  and  oppressive  in  its  effects.  Even  his  bit- 
terest opponents  will  acknowledge  his  absolute  sincerity,  his  thor- 


32  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

ough  disinterestedness  and  his  complete  purity  of  motive.  To  fur- 
ther the  interest  of  his  countrymen  in  this  land,  Mr.  Finerty  found- 
ed, January  14th,  1882,  the  "Chicago  Citizen"  weekly  paper — now 
the  official  organ  of  the  United  Irish  Societies — and  in  which,  as 
editor-in-chief,  his  articles  on  Ireland,  Irishmen,  and  Ireland's 
wrongs,  conclusively  evidence  his  extraordinary  abilities  as  well 
as  his  love  and  loyal  devotion  to  the  land  of  his  birth. 

Of  late  years  Mr.  Finerty  has  devoted  some  portion  of  each 
year  to  lecturing  tours,  and  in  these  his  considerable  historical 
knowledge,  his  wonderful  memory,  and  the  many  interesting  ex- 
periences he  has  passed  through,  have  gained  him  immense  popu- 
larity. His  "Story  of  Ireland,"  told  as  he  alone  can  tell  it,  is  a  posi- 
tive revelation.  With  him  oratory  is  a  natural  gift.  Of  words  he 
has  a  wonderful  command;  he  possesses  a  most  convincing  earnest- 
ness and  needs  nothing  and  uses  nothing  of  exaggerated  gesture 
to  point  his  periods.  His  speeches  are  among  the  most  masterly 
efforts  it  was  ever  the  privilege  of  any  American  to  enjoy.  He 
possesses,  too,  a  peculiar  and  entirely  original  power  of  amusing 
his  audience;  his  is  the  bitter  scorn  which  warms  the  whole  blood; 
his  the  eloquence  which  carries  away;  while  his  contempt  and 
ridicule,  titillating  with  the  unique  power  of  banter,  hold  his  audi- 
ence spell-bound  at  his  grand  command  over  language.  He  speaks 
decisively  and  powerfully,  giving  proper  weight  to  every  argu- 
ment, and  is  altogether  wanting  in  that  not  unusual  character- 
istic of  his  countrymen,  the  permitting  himself  to  be  carried  away 
by  his  enthusiasm  into  exaggeration  and  inaccuracy. 

Before  the  Chicago  Irish  convention  in  1895,  when  the  Irish 
National  Alliance  was  formed,  Mr.  Finerty,  who  was  the  unani- 
mous choice  for  chairman,  delivered  two  speeches,  which  were  most 
masterful  efforts,  but  of  which,  possibly,  the  second  was  the  more 
notable.  The  latter  was  a  great  speech,  altogether  worthy  of  the 
great  occasion,  and  it  gained  for  him  appreciation  and  admiration 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  33 

from  opposers  as  well  as  sympathizers.  For  the  oration  no  words 
of  praise  could  be  too  high;  and  on  the  illustrious  roll  of  speakers 
for  liberty  Mr.  Finerty  has  proven  himself  well  worthy  of  high  place. 
Of  Mr.  Finerty's  political  career  some  mention  is  required.  In 
1882  lie  was  elected  to  Congress  as  an  Independent  from  the  Sec- 
ond District  of  Illinois,  and  devoted  himself  mainly  to  great  na- 
tional questions.  His  maiden  speech — delivered  March  1st,  1884— 
attracted  general  attention,  and  quickly  indicated  he  was  a  master 
of  the  tongue  as  well  as  of  the  pen.  His  was  the  introduction  of 
the  first  resolution  calling  for  the  formation  of  the  present  White 
Squadron.  He  also  made,  later  in  the  session,  an  historical  speech 
in  favor  of  the  coast  fortification  bill,  and  warned  the  House  that 
economy  in  the  face  of  national  danger  was  not  patriotism  but 
folly. 

In  1884,  of  James  G.  Elaine,  who  embodied  his  views  on  the 
great  American  questions  of  the  day,  Mr.  Fiuerty  was  one  of  the 
most  active  supporters,  and  it  was,  no  doubt,  in  consequence  of  this 
support  that  he  suffered  defeat  in  his  congressional  district,  which 
was  very  strongly  Democratic.  He  was  nominated  by  the  Repub- 
licans for  City  Treasurer  in  April,  1885,  but  was  beaten  by  a  few 
votes.  Two  years  following,  Mayor  Roche  appointed  him  City  Oil 
Inspector,  and  this  position  he  held  to  public  satisfaction  until  his 
term  expired  in  1889.  Since  he  has  devoted  his  time  to  his  editorial, 
lecturing  and  literary  duties.  In  February,  1891,  he  was  chosen  to 
deliver  the  Washington  oration  at  the  University  of  Michigan,  and 
at  the  Elaine  Memorial  Meeting,  held  here  after  that  great  states- 
man's death,  he  was  one  of  the  principal  speakers.  He  has  also 
taken  an  active  part  in  national,  State  and  local  politics,  for  as  an 
electioneering  platform  speaker  he  possesses  few  equals,  and  there 
is  certainly  none  more  popular. 

While  in  national  politics  Mr.  Finerty  professes  Republican 
views,  yet  among  his  closest  friends  are  manv  of  the  leaders  of  the 


34  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

Democratic  party,  as  well  as  their  followers.    His  paper,  "The  Chi-  ^ 
cago  Citizen,"  is  entirely  independent  politically. 

"Warpath  and  Bivouac,"  a  book  containing  Mr.  Finerty's  rec 
ollections  and  personal  experiences  in  two  of  the  Indian  campaigns, 
was  published  by  him  in  April,  1890.  It  was  received  with 
great  favor  by  the  press  and  the  public.  Mr.  Finerty  has  ready, 
and  will  shortly  publish,  another  volume  of  stirring  adventure  and 
memorable  events,  being  a  record  of  his  Mexican  and  Southwestern 
experiences,  and  for  it  public  appreciation  is  already  absolutely 
assured. 

In  moral  force,  as  applied  to  England,  he  places  no  faith  what- 
ever, and  claims  that,  even  were  her  Irish  rule  to  undergo  a  miracu- 
lous alteration  and  to  become  as  good  as  it  has  hitherto  uniformly 
been  bad,  her  government  in  Ireland  is  naught  but  a  usurpation, 
whose  foundation  was  brute  force,  entire  faithlessness  and  multi- 
tudinous wrongs.  The  extremity  of  Ireland's  misery  was  not  the 
casual  concurrence  of  calamitous  circumstances,  it  was  the  out- 
come of  centuries  of  cruel,  oppressive  and  pernicious  masterhood 
to  an  extent  more  than  sufficient  to  justify  the  whole  country  in 
becoming  desperate  in  action  and  absolutely  careless  as  to  its 
employment  of  methods  or  instruments.  To  expose  the  political 
methods  of  England  is  to  him  a  labor  of  love,  one  in  which  he  knows 
no  fatigue,  and  a  work  which,  both  by  nature  and  education,  he  is 
peculiarly  adapted  to  carry  out 

Matrimony,  that  most  important  event  in  every  man's  life,  has 
been  with  him  a  most  fortunate  essay.  He  was  married,  in  May, 
1882,  to  Miss  Sadie  L.  Hennessy,  of  this  city,  a  lady  of  many  accom- 
plishments, great  intellectual  gifts,  and  bright  and  cheery  tempera- 
ment. Four  children  have  been  born  to  them,  of  whom  two  sur- 
vive—John F.,  Jr.,  who  was  born  May  27th,  1885,  and  Vera  C.,  born 
July  7th,  1886. 

To  be  prominent  and  successful  in  these  days  is  to  gain  the  envy 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  35 

and  malice  of  many;  perchance  Mr.  Finerty  may  be  accused  of  the 
impetuosity  and  the  quick  temper  of  his  race,  but  any  such  failings 
are  more  than  compensated  for  by  his  great  kindliness  of  disposi- 
tion and  his  never  failing  good  nature;  indeed,  his  absolute  ina- 
bility to  refuse  any  assistance  in  his  power,  has  resulted  in  the  num- 
ber of  his  enemies  being  immeasurably  counterbalanced  by  a  great 
army  of  admiring  and  devoted  friends. 

John  F.  Finerty  has  always  placed  principle  before  party,  the 
needs  of  the  country  of  his  birth  before  his  own  well-being,  and  by 
«o  doing  has  earned  for  himself  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  nation- 
alities and  of  all  creeds,  as  well  as  a  place  in1  the  minds  and  affection 
of  the  majority  of  his  fellow  countrymen,  which  almost  approaches 
worship.  To  him,  indeed,  might  well  be  applied  the  words  spoken 
by  the  present  Lord  Chief  Justice  of  England,  Lord  Charles  Russell, 
with  reference  to  Michael  Davitt,  in  the  Parnell  Commission:  "I 
say  that  the  whole  course  of  his  life  may  be  examined,  and  not  one 
incident  will  be  found  to  say  that  he  has  been  unfaithful  to  any 
trust  or  has  been  guilty  of  any  dishonorable  action." 

In  America  the  best  work  of  his  life  has  been  done.  Devoted  to 
the  old  land  across  the  seas,  he  loves  with  no  less  deep  affection  the 
great  free  country  which  has  given  him  home  and  opportunity. 
From  early  manhood  to  his  present  prime  of  life,  Chicago  has  num- 
bered him  among  her  truest  citizens,  and  in  its  large  area  there  is 
no  fitter  representative  of  Western  energy  and  Irish  American 
achievement  than  large-hearted,  generous-souled  John  F.  Finerty. 


36  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 


HON.  JOSEPH  P.  MAHONEY. 


The  city  of  Chicago,  perhaps  the  greatest  field  for  professional 
enterprises  on  all  this  great  continent,  has  no  lawyer  of  nobler 
promise,  no  stronger  example  of  what  enterprise,  perseverance, 
and  never  ending  application  can  achieve,  than  Senator  Joseph 
P.  Mahoney.  Faithful  attention  to  the  interests  of  his  clients, 
every  detail  of  each  case  fully  weighed  and  properly  considered, 
are  the  means  by  which  Mr.  Mahoney  has  attained  so  high  a  place 
in  his  profession.  Indeed,  his  honorable  conduct  in  all  and  every 
position  in  which  he  has  found  himself,  the  display  of  abilities  of 
the  very  highest  order,  well  accounts  for  the  honor  which  was 
done  him  in  three  consecutive  elections  to  the  Legislature  as  rep- 
resentative from  the  Fifth  Senatorial  District,  followed  by  the 
position  he  now  holds,  that  of  Senator  from  the  same  district. 

Joseph  P.  Mahoney  was  born  in  Oswego,  New  York  State,  on 
November  1,  1864.  His  parents,  Michael  and  Mary  (Canty)  Ma- 
honey, were  both  natives  of  County  Cork.  Michael  came  to  Amer- 
ica in  1843,  and  took  the  position  of  night  watchman.  His  parents 
settled  in  Chicago,  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  only  three 
years  old.  Most  careful  and  anxious  regarding  the  education  of 
their  children,  young  Joseph,  when  old  enough,  was  sent  to  the 
public  school,  and  quickly  made  himself  marked  by  his  applica- 
tion to  his  books  and  his  great  love  for  study.  He  graduated  from 
the  public  schools  of  this  city,  and  does  most  excellent  credit  to 
the  teaching  such  schools  afford. 

The  choice  of  a  profession  having  been  made,  Joseph  P.  Ma- 
honey applied  himself  diligently  to  the  study  of  law,  for  which  he 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  37 

had  always  felt  and  evinced  a  strong  inclination.  He  was  ground- 
ed in  the  theory  and  practice  of  his  profession  in  the  office  of 
Messrs.  Jewett  &  Norton,  a  firm  of  the  highest  reputation  in  this 
city.  He  made  application  for  admission  to  the  bar  when  only 
twenty  years  old,  and  in  the  examination  showed  such  satisfactory 
knowledge  that  he  was,  though  under  age,  admitted  to  practice 
conditionally,  that  a  license  should  be  taken  out  so  soon  as  he 
came  of  age.  The  practice  of  his  profession  was  at  once  com- 
menced, and  he  has  since  continued  to  demonstrate  how  especially 
fitted  he  was  to  become  a  lawyer.  Of  late  years  he  has  chiefly 
devoted  himself  to  Chancery  Law. 

His  career  has  been  a  remarkable  one,  and  in  this  State  abso- 
lutely without  parallel.  He  was  but  twenty-one  years  of  age  when 
he  was  first  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature,  and  three 
years  later  was  given  appointment  as  a  Master  in  Chancery  of  the 
Circuit  Court  of  Cook  County.  The  Hon.  Hempstead  Washburne, 
then  Mayor  of  Chicago,  appointed  him  to  the  Board  of  Education. 
Mr.  Mahouey's  gifts  are  of  a  very  varied  character.  He  is  a 
born  speaker,  easy  in  his  manner,  forcible  in  his  arguments,  but 
never  in  any  way  offensive  in  his  method.  His  voice  is  musical, 
his  words  always  well  chosen. 

A  Democrat  at  all  times,  and  ever  active  for  his  party,  defend- 
ing its  principles  fearlessly  and  earnestly,  he  is  never  without  tol- 
erance for  the  views  and  opinions  of  others. 

When  in  the  Legislature,  to  which,  in  this  State,  he  was  the 
youngest  man  ever  elected,  he  acquitted  himself  in  a  manner  to 
entirely  satisfy  his  constituents.  A  resident  of  the  west  side  of 
this  city,  its  interests  have  always  obtained  his  first  attention, 
but  whenever  the  good  of  the  citizens,  or  the  city  of  Chicago  were 
concerned,  he  has  never  been  found  wanting.  He  was  the  author 
of  the  bill  authorizing  the  West  town  of  Chicago  to  make  a  million 
dollar  issue  of  bonds,  the  money  to  be  expended  on  park  and 


38  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

street  improvements  preparatory  to  the  World's  Columbian  Ex- 
position. In  the  passing  of  the  Convict  Labor  Bill  to  prevent  the 
competition  of  prison  with  outside  labor,  he  also  took  a  very  fore- 
most part,  as  also  in  that  very  popular  bill  which  gives  in  the 
poor  man's  court  trial  by  jury,  if  demanded.  He  has  also  been 
intimately  connected  with  other  well  known  bills,  among  which 
may  be  mentioned  the  Eight  Hour  Law;  the  repeal  of  the  Ed- 
wards Compulsory  School  Law;  and  the  Truck  Store  Bill  for  the 
miners. 

Such  a  record  while  still  so  young  a  man,  is  one  of  which  any 
lawyer  might  well  be  proud.  Among  his  professional  brethren 
his  success  has  aroused  no  jealousy,  for  what  he  has  achieved  has 
been  the  result  of  hard  work  and  continual  and  unwearying  appli- 
cation, thorough  conscientiousness  and  unquestionable  integrity. 

Before  Senator  Joseph  P.  Mahoney  looms  a  future  so  full  of 
the  brightest  prospects,  that  it  would  be  impossible  for  any  one 
to  prophesy  how  high  a  position  he  may  hereafter  attain. 


JOSEPH  DOWNEY. 


There  is  no  man  in  Chicago  better  deserving  of  credit  for  what 
he  has  achieved  in  this  world  than  Mr.  Joseph  Downey.  By  sheer 
pluck  and  perseverance,  united  with  integrity  and  a  determination 
to  succeed,  he  has  been  enabled  to  accomplish  at  a  comparatively 
early  age  what  it  takes  most  men  a  life-time  to  attain.  In  his  own 
profession,  that  of  a  contractor  and  builder,  he  has  few  equals  and 
none  superior. 

Joseph  Downey  was  born  in  Parsons  Town,  Kings  County,  Ire- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN   CHICAGO.  41 

land,  April  23rd,  1849,  and  is  the  son  of  Michael  and  Elizabeth 
(McGnire)  Downey.  His  father  and  grandfather  were  both  noted 
builders  iu  their  day,  having  together  planned  and  built  many  of 
the  leading  structures  in  that  part  of  the  country,  one  of  which 
was  the  Ross  Castle,  also  the  building  and  foundations  of  the  Ross 
Telescope,  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  the  world  up.  to  a  few  years  ago. 
Mr.  Downey's  father  dying  when  he  was  five  years  of  age,  his 
mother  at  once  came  to  America,  bringing  with  her  her  family; 
she  first  settled  at  Cincinnati,  but  soon  afterward  moved  to  this 
city. 

Joseph's  education  was  obtained  in  the  public  schools  of  this 
city,  and  at  an  early  age  he  learned  the  mason  trade  in  all  its 
branches,  which  gave  him  a  practical  knowledge  of  building,  there- 
by fitting  him  for  what  he  now  is,  one  of  the  most  successful  build- 
ers in  this  country. 

Mr.  Downey  laid  the  foundation  and  superintended  the  first 
permanent  structure  after  the  great  fire  in  this  city,  namely,  the 
building  on  Madison  Street,  fifty  feet  west  of  Fifth  Avenue,  which 
stands  there  to-day. 

In  1874,  Mr.  Jamies  McGraw,  an  old  builder  of  this  city,  took 
him  into  partnership,  and  the  wisdom  of  his  employer  was  soon 
justified  by  the  keen  perception,  untiring  energy,  and  good  busi- 
ness qualities  evinced  by  him. 

December  7th,  1871,  Mr.  Downey  married  Miss  Clara  McGraw, 
who  died  in  May,  1883. 

In  1883,  Mr.  Downey  severed  his  connections  with  Mr.  McGraw, 
having  bought  out  the  interests  of  the  firm,  and  since  that  time 
up  to  two  years  ago,  has  done  the  largest  business  of  any  contrac- 
tor in  this  part  of  the  country,  his  last  year's  business  amounting 
to  over  $2,700,000. 

Mr.  Downey  has  built  some  of  the  largest  and  most  costly 
structures  in  the  west,  among  which  are  the  magnificent  Depot  for 


42  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  Illinois  Central  R.  K.  Co.,  and  the  Dearborn  Station,  also  the 
Indianapolis  Union  Depot;  he  was  also  a  partner  and  the  active 
man  in  bringing  to  a  successful  issue  one  of  the  largest  engineer- 
ing difficulties  in  this  city,  the  Van  Buren  Street  Tunnel,  a  feat  of 
which  any  man  may  well  be  proud. 

Mr.  Downey  is  a  remarkable  example  of  the  self  made  man,  for 
starting  in  life  absolutely  dependent  on  his  own  resources  he  has 
been  able  to  accumulate  enough  of  this  world's  goods  to  enjoy  in 
his  after  years  all  that  a  busy  and  prosperous  life  well  justifies. 

He  was  married,  May  llth,  1885,  to  Miss  Lena  Klein,  of  Chi- 
cago. Mr.  Downey  is  somewhat  of  a  club  man,  being  an  active 
member  of  the  Union  League,  Illinois,  Menoken,  and  Lincoln  Clubs, 
and  is  President  of  the  Building  Trades  Club,  an  organization  com- 
posed of  the  large  and  responsible  builders.  In  addition  to  his  pri- 
vate business,  he  was  called  upon  by  Mayor  George  B.  Swift,  in 
May,  1885,  to  take  a  cabinet  position,  that  of  Commissioner  of 
Buildings,  which  office  he  resigned  in  July,  189G,  to  become  Com- 
missioner of  Public  Works.  The  department  has  never  been  more 
worthily  filled,  for  he  is  no  mere  machine  politician,  but  essentially 
a  man  of  business,  and  so  soon  as  he  knows  any  work  is  necessary, 
he  insists  that  it  shall  be  done  at  once.  "The  public  works  depart- 
ment," he  said,  in  an  interview  shortly  after  his  appointment,  "is 
a  huge  contracting  department  for  the  benefit  of  the  public.  I  am 
placed  here  between  the  taxpayer  and  the  contractor  to  see  that 
each  is  rightfully  treated,  and  I  intend  that  they  shall  be.  The 
clerks  and  inspectors  of  the  department  are  here  for  the  same  pur- 
pose. If  they  do  not  do  their  business  that  way,  they  will  be  dis- 
charged." He  has  also  been  honored  with  the  Chairmanship  of  the 
Commission  appointed  by  Mayor  Swift  to  solve  the  problem  of 
securing  a  pure  water  supply  for  Chicago,  the  solution  of  which 
will  probably  entail  an  expense  of  $2,500,000.00. 

A  man  of  fine  appearance,  entirely  whole  souled,  he  is  like  most 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  43 

men  who  have  been  the  architects  of  their  own  fortune,  easily  ap- 
proached, in  him  there  is  no  egotism,  he  treats  alike  the  rich  and 
poor,  courtesy  and  kind  treatment  are  assured,  but  there  is  never 
any  lacking  of  either  dignity  or  firmness.  His  half  century  of  life 
is  as  yet  uncompleted,  he  has  been  able  to  build  up  a  large  fortune, 
by  methods  against  which  no  slur  of  dishonesty  or  sharp  practice 
has  ever  been  cast.  But  far  beyond  his  reputation  as  a  millionaire, 
stands  the  universal  trust,  respect  and  honor,  which  are  accorded 
him  by  every  man  with  whom  he  has  ever  been  brought  into  asso- 
ciation, business  or  personal. 


JOHN   FRANCIS   CLARE. 


The  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  another  member  of  the  legal 
profession,  was  born  in  Chicago,  September  19th,  1865,  and  is  a 
son  of  James  Clare,  a  native  of  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  and  an  old  settler 
of  the  City  of  Chicago. 

John  F.  Clare  attended  the  public  and  high  schools  of  Chicago, 
and,  after  mastering  all  his  preparatory  studies,  was  sent  to  Ford- 
ham,  N.  Y.,  where  he  entered  St.  John  College.  Finishing  his 
course  in  that  famous  institution,  he  returned  home  and  began  the 
study  of  law,  and  graduated  from  the  Union  College  of  Law  in  the 
class  of  1891. 

His  ability  as  an  attorney  was  soon  recognized,,  and  during 
John  P.  Hopkins'  administration  as  Mayor  of  Chicago,  Mr.  Clare 
was  tendered  a  portfolio,  being  appointed  to  the  important  office 
of  First  Assistant  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  the  City  of  Chicago, 


44  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

a  position  he  filled  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  entire  satis- 
faction of  the  city  government. 

After  his  retirement  from  public  office  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  law,  with  offices  in  the  Unity  Building,  and  now  enjoys  a  large 
and  lucrative  practice. 

October  9th,  1895,  Mr.  Clare  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Nellie  G.,  daughter  of  James  and  Kate  Stenson,  and  to  them  one 
child  has  been  born. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and  affiliates 
with  the  Democratic  party. 

A  man  of  pleasing  personality,  he  is  sound  in  his  judgment  and 
always  true  to  his  convictions,  and  with  recognised  ability  in  his 
profession  enjoys  the  respect  and  esteem  of  a  large  circle  of  friends. 


JAMES  HARTNETT. 


The  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Daniel  Hartnett,  born 
in  Queenstown,  Ireland,  on  March  12th,  1822,  was  of  Irish  and 
French  extraction.  He  was  schooled  at  Queenstown  until  he  was 
seventeen  years  of  age,  when  (his  parents  having  previously  lost 
their  lands  through  land  troubles  and  their  fortune  being  much 
depleted)  he  went  to  England,  and  after  a  brief  time  there,  to 
France,  through  which  country  he  traveled  some  two  years.  Early 
in  1841  he  sailed  for  Quebec,  Canada,  where  upon  his  arrival  he 
pursued  specially  for  some  years  a  course  in  higher  mathematics, 
history  and  literature.  Leaving  Quebec,  he  went  to  New  York, 
where  he  remained  some  five  years,  then  he  came  to  Chicago, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  47 

where  he  became  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  which  country  was 
to  be  henceforth  his  home.    On  January  6th,  1857,  at  Elgin,  111., 
he  was  married  to  Catharine  Donahoe,  an  American  by  birth  but 
of  Irish  extraction.    Born  in  Boston  on  the  15th  day  of  August, 
1S33,  she  was  the  daughter  of  William  Donahoe    and    Margaret 
(Clinnin)  Donahoe,  and  received  her  education  chiefly  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Illinois.     Daniel  Hartnett  and  his  wife  were  both 
young  and  both  strong  and  active  mentally  and  physically;  they 
therefore  entered  upon  their  married  life  with  full  hope  and  con- 
fidence as  to  the  future.    Locating  in  Mississippi,  he  did  survey- 
ing and  contract  work  with  good  success  and  financial  gain,  which, 
however,  he  was  destined  not  to  collect  in  large  part,  because  of 
the  Civil  War.     Leaving  the  sunny  south  early  in  the  spring  of 
1860,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hartnett  journeyed  to  Galena,  111.,  where  they 
took  up  their  home  and  where,  on  the  23d  day  of  January,  1862, 
was  born  to  them  a  child,  their  son  James  Hartnett.     From  the 
time  of  his  arrival  in  Galena  to  the  20th  day  of  August,  1862,  Dan- 
iel Hartnett  was  a  successful  farmer.     In  the  summer  of  1862, 
having  been  watching  with  considerable  anxiety  the  condition 
of  his  country,  he  said  one  day  to  his  wife  that  the  country  needed 
his  services,  and  shortly  afterwards,  that  he  was  reluctant  to 
leave  his  family,  but  that,  if  the  country  should  be  divided  and 
liberty  lost,  he  would  be  ashamed  to  look  his  son,  when  he  grew 
up,  in  the  face  and  say  that  he  had  not  courage  to  help  maintain 
for  him  a  country  and  liberty.     His  decision  was  reached  on  the 
20th  day  of  August,  1862,  when  he  enrolled  as  volunteer  to  serve 
three  years  or  during  the  war.    He  served  in  the  90th  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers, and  with  them  fought  at  Coldwater,  Miss.;    Vicksburg; 
Jackson,    Miss.;     Colliersville,     Tenn.;    Missionary  Kidge;    Siege 
ofKnoxville;  Resaca,  Ga.;  Dallas,  Ga,;  Kennesaw  Mount;  Atlan- 
ta, July  19th,  22nd,  28th,  August  3d  and  17th;    Jonesboro,  Ga.; 
Lovejoy  Station;    Rome,  Ga.;    Gadsden,  Ala.;    Jennison's  Bridge, 


48  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

Ogeeche  Kiver;  Fort  McAllister;  Savannah;  Charleston,  S.  C.; 
Columbia;  Bentonville,  N.  C.  On  the  6th  day  of  June,  1865,  he 
was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service  of  the  United  States 
by  reason  of  the  termination  of  the  war,  and  immediately  went 
to  his  family  in  Galena.  Seated  near  the  open  door,  in  his  own 
home  for  the  first  time  since  August,  1862,.  he  was  again  with  his 
family.  James,  then  little  more  than  three  years  of  age,  for  a 
moment  bashfully  clung  to  his  mother,  and  then  running  to  his 
father  and  looking  up  into  his  face  innocently  asked:  "Are  you 
my  papa?"  And  the  father  answered  with  the  smile  of  one  who 
had  helped  to  maintain  for  his  boy  a  country  and  liberty.  Before 
the  war  he  had  never  had  the  services  of  a  physician,  but  after  the 
war  his  shattered  constitution  caused  him  anxiety.  And  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  January  31st,  1874,  he  spent  much  of  his 
time  educating  his  son,  and  with  great  eagerness  anticipated  the 
time  when  James  should  be  able  to  care  for  himself  and  to  protect 
his  mother. 

James  Hartnett  inherited  a  constitution  which  well  fitted  him 
as  a  boy  to  prosecute  vigorously  out  door  sports,  and  a  confidence 
which  sustained  him  easily  on  land  and  upon  the  water.  He  re- 
ceived his  primary  and  high  school  education  in  the  public  schools 
and  pursued  the  scientific  course  at  Normal.  At  the  age  of  nine- 
teen years  he  was  regularly  licensed  to  teach  public  school  and 
entered  that  field  of  work  at  Moline,  111.  Beginning  on  primary 
work,  he  had  the  golden  opportunity  to  study  mind,  and  there, 
while  engaged  in  the  business  of  training  others,  received  a  thor- 
ough and  practical  training  in  psychology.  As  an  educator,  he 
proved  peculiarly  successful.  He  believed  that  there  was  a  nat- 
ural evolution  of  the  mind  and  a  natural  tendency  to  activity 
equal  to  the  totality  of  energy  possessed.  For  him  the  great  prob- 
lem was  not  how  to  cause  the  children  entrusted  to  his  care  to  work 
harder,  but  to  ascertain  the  true  relation  and  definition  of  the 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  49 

matter  he  should  present-  before  them,  and  how  to  know  each 
pupil  thoroughly  that  he  might  best  ascertain  when  the  child 
grasped  the  new  thought  and  when  he  failed.  The  greater  work 
he  recognized  was  in  being  able  to  facilitate  the  natural  evolu- 
tion of  the  mind,  and  acting  upon  these  principles  he  was  suc- 
cessful. The  energy  of  the  child  was  properly  expended.  Nat- 
ural evolution  was  facilitated  and  education  was  marked. 

Something  of  originality  in  his  manner  of  presenting  his  work 
facilitated.  Surrounded,  though  he  was,  with  expensive  reading 
charts,  yet  he  had  them  carefully  stored  and  proceeded  upon  the 
more  logical  method  of  starting  the  child  to  read  through  the 
script  medium.  With  a  piece  of  crayon  and  slate,  four  feet  by 
five  feet,  he  could  present  a  few  words  in  a  great  multiplicity  of 
positions.  The  child  looked  first  to  find  the  words,  the  groups,  and 
then  to  gather  thoughts.  The  child  read,  and  in  a  few  weeks  it 
was  able  to  take  up  the  printed  book.  This  was  a  practical  dem- 
onstration that  much  of  the  energy  theretofore  expended  by  the 
child  in  learning  to  read  was  wasted.  Again  he  demonstrated  that 
by  keeping  well  in  mind  the  principles  taught  and  their  natural 
evolution,  much  time  could  be  saved.  That  the  boy  in  the  primary 
school  could  master  arithmetic  and  enjoy  systematic  work  with 
plants  and  animals. 

Continuing  his  work  in  the  interest  of  the  public  schools  of 
our  State,  he  received  much  encouragement  from  pupils  entrusted 
to  his  care  and  from  the  teachers  associated  with  him,  and  more 
and  more  liberally  did  the  boards  of  education  supply  the  schools. 
In  September,  1889,  he  took  charge  of  the  public  schools  of  Henry, 
111.  There  he  had  an  enthusiastic  staff  of  teachers  who  spent 
many  hours  with  him  evenings  that  the  utility  and  value  of  the 
schools  might  be  enhanced.  Progress  and  improvement  began  at 
the  bottom,  and  there  was  an  upward  movement  all  along  the 
line.  Before  the  close  of  the  year  the  board  of  education  tendered 


50  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE  x 

him  the  position  for  another  year  with  an  increase  of  salary.  In 
response  to  Mr.  Hartnett's  letter  of  acceptance,  Duncan  Camp- 
bell, Esq.,  clerk  of  the  Board  of  Education,  wrote: 

Rooms  of  Board  of  Education. 

May  14th,  1890. 
Prof.  James  ITartnett, 

Superintendent  of  Schools: 

Dear  Sir: — Your  communication  expressive  of  high  and  most, 
pleasing  sentiments,  by  which  you  communicated  to  the  Board  of 
Education  your  acceptance  of  the  position  of  superintendent  with 
added  duties  of  principal  is  received  and  placed  on  file. 

With  the  full  impress  of  their  educational  importance,  the 
offer  made  by  the  Board  and  its  acceptance  by  you  add  new  luster 
to  the  triumphs  already  won  by  a  faithful  and  able  discharge  of 
duties  on  your  part  in  advancing  the  best  interests  of  our  schools. 

Your  expressed  desire  to  show  your  appreciation  of  the  action 
of  the  Board  in  relation  to  yourself,  by  thus  continuing  to  discharge 
your  duties,  presents  a  grandeur  of  practical  thought  indicative 
of  success,  justifying  mutual  anticipation  of  a  result  exceedingly 
desirable.  Yours  truly, 

Duncan  Campbell,  Clerk. 

In  the  fall  of  1890,  acting  upon  the  principle  that  the  State 
can  well  afford  to  educate  her  children,  some  collegiate  work  wras 
added  to  the  high  school  course,  and  the  graduating  class  remained 
another  year  to  do  the  work.  The  Board  of  Education,  realizing 
the  enormous  amount  of  work  placed  upon  Mr.  Hartnett  and  the 
gain  that  would  accrue  to  the  school,  decided  to  secure  him  another 
assistant.  Mr.  Hartnett's  sister,  Anna  M.  Hartnett,  was  induced 
to  accept  the  position  and  immediately  took  charge  of  the  high 
school  as  principal.  This  proved  not  only  to  be  of  great  advantage 
to  the  school  but  of  effect  in  the  life  of  James  Hartnett.  He  had 
more  time  nights  for  reading,  and  adding  to  his  stock  of  law  books, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  51 

up  to  that  time  consisting  only  of  a  copy  of  Blackstone's  Commen- 
taries and  Bouvier's  law  dictionary,  he  devoted  himself  to  the 
reading  of  law. 

The  schools  progressed  and  at  the  commencement  exercises 
in  the  summer  of  '90  originality  again  added  to  success.  A  large 
blackboard  was  brought  upon  the  rostrum  and  rapid  calculations 
mid  mathematical  and  philosophical  demonstrations  by  the  class 
proved  to  be  an  appreciated  innovation. 

Vacation  was  spent  in  the  law  office  of  the  Honorable  Fred 
S.  Potter.  September,  1890,  came  aoid  educational  duties  again 
claimed  Mr.  Hartnett's  services.  He  labored  vigorously  in  school 
by  day  and  read  law  nights.  The  liberality  of  the  board  of  edu- 
cation in  carrying  out  his  plans  was  rewarded  with  good  success. 
The  tone  and  progress  of  the  schools  continued  good  and  in  the 
summer  of  1891  the  graduating  class  entertained  a  large  and  intel- 
ligent, audience  till  midnight  on  the  10th  day  of  June,  and  with 
those  exercises  Mr.  Hartnett  closed  ten  years  of  successful  school 
work.  He  had  spent  his  days  and  nights  endeavoring  to  promote 
the  cause  of  education,  and  had  well  utilized  the  opportunities 
which  here  and  elsewhere  had  been  favorable  to  gaining  a  knowl- 
edge of  human  nature.  During  his  vacations  time  had  been  found 
to  commingle  with  men  in  many  States,  most  of  whom  were 
strangers  to  him,  and  in  this  way  his  judgment  of  men  was  neces- 
sarily quickened  and  incidentally  he  gained  a  fund  of  practical 
knowledge. 

He  spent  the  summer  of  1891  in  the  law  office  of  Mr.  Potter. 
In  September  of  that  year,  his  mother  and  her  family  became  per- 
manent residents  of  Chicago.  James  acted  upon  the  theory  that 
the  best  place  to  study  practice  was  in  the  Federal  and  State 
Courts,  and  that  the  place  of  much  litigation  was  the  place  to  prac- 
tice law.  lie  was  familiar  with  life  in  St.  Louis,  Omaha,  New  York, 
and  other  cities,  but  chose  to  establish  himself  in  Chicago,  believ- 


52  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OP    THE 

ing  that  there  the  highest  opportunities  were  open.  Before  the 
Supreme  Court  on  the  14th  day  of  June,  1892,  he  was  licensed  to 
practice,  and  at  once  entered  upon  a  general  practice  of  law.  In 
October,  1893,  .James  Hartnett  became  associated  with  the  Hon- 
orable Daniel  Donahoe  and  Judge  E.  M.  Wing  in  the  trial  of  the 
case  of  The  People  v.  Daniel  Coughlin,  and  worked  with  them 
day  and  night  in  the  defense  until  the  finding  by  the  jury  of  the 
verdict  of  not  guilty,  on  the  9th  day  of  March,  1894. 

Soon  afterward  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Donahoe  and 
has  since  continued  to  be  a  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Donahoe  & 
Hartnett. 

Mr.  Hartnett's  facility  and  power  as  a  trial  lawyer  does  credit 
to  his  persistent  and  systematic  efforts,  and  a  few  instances  will 
serve  to  illustrate  his  strong  qualifications.  Before  Judge  Sears, 
in  March,  1895,  the  genuineness  of  three  bills  was  in  question. 
The  prosecution  brought  in  a  paying  teller  from  a  bank  who  testi- 
fied that  each  bill  was  a  genuine  twenty  dollar  bill.  Mr.  Hartnett 
commenced  his  cross-examination  of  the  witness  in  an  easy,  unas- 
suming manner  and  the  witness  was  led  to  say:  That  he  did  not 
know  the  exact  difference  between  a  greenback  and  a  treasury 
note;  that  he  did  not  know  of  any  difference;  that  he  did  not 
know  the  particulars  of  silver  or  gold  certificates  nor  of  national 
bank  notes;  that  he  did  not  know  many  of  the  tests  used  by  ex- 
perts. Then,  by  sheer  force  of  logic,  the  witness  was  compelled 
to  testify  that  a  counterfeit  of  high  character  as  to  skill  of  work- 
manship and  intended  to  counterfeit  bills  like  those  in  question, 
would  be  very  similar  to  them;  that  the  markings,  engravings 
and  seals  would  be  very  similar,  and  that  if  made  by  an  artist — a 
_  high  class  man  in  that  line — it  would  be  extremely  difficult  to 
detect  the  counterfeit  from  the  genuine.  That  in  some  cases  it 
would  be  necessary  to  examine  carefully  with  a  microscope  to 
detect  the  difference.  That  this  was  true  of  each  of  the  bills  in 


AMERICAN   IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  53 

question,  and  that  he  had  examined  them  but  a  quarter  or  half 
minute  and  without  the  aid  of  a  microscope.  That  the  most  expert, 
though  careful,  are  apt  to  take  high  class  counterfeit  bills  as 
genuine.  That  the  witness  in  his  position  at  the  bank  had  received 
counterfeit  bills,  which  he  did  not  detect  till  afterward.  That 
the  witness  had  been  called  to  testify  that  the  bills  were  genuine. 

Again,  in  the  Caruther's  case,  tried  before  Judge  Gibbons  in 
January,  1896,  expert  book-keepers  for  a  large  corporation  testi- 
fied that  large  sums  of  money  had  not  been  paid  in  to  the  corpora- 
tion. Mr.  Hartnett  demonstrated  on  cross-examination  that  they 
could  not  tell  whether  it  had.  Twice  the  witnesses  were  sent  to 
study  their  books  and  a  second  and  third  time  it  was  demonstrated 
that  they  could  not  tell. 

In  the  O'Brien  case,  tried  in  the  Criminal  Court  in  December, 
1895,  an  expert  testified  relative  to  some  valuable  art  goods  that 
had  come  through  the  World's  Fair.  Here,  by  subtle  cross-ex- 
amination he  convinced  the  court  and  jury  that  the  witness  knew 
but  little  of  art  goods  and  that  his  testimony  was  not  to  be  relied 
upon. 

A  trial  lawyer's  work  taxes  the  strongest  powers  and  the  great- 
est endurance  to  the  utmost.  The  trial  lawyer  must  wrestle  with 
men  every  inch  his  equal.  He  must  make  clear  the  most  abstruse 
and  complex  matters.  Mr.  Hartnett's  ability  in  this  direction  has 
been  severely  tested.  In  the  case  of  the  people  v.  Sampson  et  al., 
tried  in  the  Criminal  Court  before  the  Honorable  William  G. 
Ewing — one  of  the  most  important  cases  that  ever  came  before 
court  or  jury — a  case  that  so  excited  the  activity  of  a  political  club 
as  to  bring  it  into  national  prominence  in  the  general  movement 
for  a  higher  municipal  life  and  greater  sacredness  of  the  ballot — 
Mr.  Hartnett,  at  the  close  of  the  argument  for  the  prosecution, 
arose  and  addressed  a  most  intelligent  jury.  Thus  far  the  jury 
had  listened  five  weeks  to  the  trial.  Yet  the  liberty  of  nine  defend- 
ants was  involved,  as  was  also  the  sacredness  of  law  and  govern- 


54  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

nient.  They  would  listen  to  the  lawyer  for  the  defendants,  they 
needed  his  assistance  in  considering  the  diverse  testimony  of  some 
thirty  witnesses  and  a  great  complication  of  circumstantial  evi- 
dence. Hour  by  hour  passed,  as  for  two  whole  days  he  calmly  and 
coolly  analyzed  the  evidence  against  his  clients  and  held  to  the 
view  of  the  jury  the  great  gaps  in,  and  uncertainties  of  the  evi- 
dence for  the  prosecution;  as  synthetically  from  the  evidence  for 
the  defendants  and  even  from  much  of  that  of  the  prosecution  he 
built  for  the  defendants  an  impregnable  bulwark.  With  the  strong 
power  of  a  trained  psychologist,  he  impressed  upon  the  jury  the 
great  principles  of  the  law  of  liberty  and  that  the  men  on  trial 
should  be  acquitted.  As  one  of  two  lawyers,  he  was  fighting  a 
great  battle  against  fearful  odds  and  for  the  liberty  of  nine  of  his 
.  fellow  men.  The  entire  machinery  of  a  great  state  was  placed  in 
the  hands  of  a  public  prosecutor  and  private  counsel,  and  the 
great  engines  were  working  against  his  clients.  It  was  a  powerful 
and  exhaustive  effort,  enabling  the  jury  to  say  that  they  had  re- 
ceived help  where  they  needed  it  and  that  the  defendants  were 
not  guilty. 

As  a  trial  lawyer,  Mr.  Hartnett  has  been  pre-eminently  suc- 
cessful. As  a  lawyer  standing  before  the  court,  he  is  strong,  cour- 
teous and  conscientious. 


FRANK  A.  DEVLIN. 

Frank  A.  Devlin,  one  of  Chicago's  most  successful  and  most 
popular  business  men,  is  a  native  of  County  Armagh,  Ireland, 
where  he  was  born  August  3d,  1857.  His  father,  Peter  Devlin,, 
was  also  a  native  of  County  Armagh,  where  he  followed  the  busi- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO. 

ness  of  a  produce  merchant  for  over  fifty  years,  buying  in  the 
Irish  markets — chiefly  butter  and  eggs — and  shipping  to  England. 
He  acquired  quite  a  competence  and  died  at  the  good  old  age  of 
eighty-four.  His  wife,  mother  of  Frank  A.,  was  born  in  the  same 
neighborhood,  where  she  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-three. 

Frank  A.  Devlin  was  educated  in  the  national  schools  of  his 
native  county  and  came  alone  to  the  United  States  when  sixteen 
years  of  age.  He  knew  sufficient  of  Chicago  to  make  it  his  goal, 
and  coming  direct  to  this  city,  he  almost  immediately  obtained 
work  with  Field,  Leiter  &  Co.  With  that  firm  he  remained  for 
about  six  years,  then  accepting  an  engagement  with  Carson,  Pirie 
&  Scott  as  assistant  buyer  in  the  hosiery  and  underwear  depart- 
ment. The  following  year  he  received  promotion  to  the  position 
of  buyer  and  manager  of  the  department,  which,  at  that  time  (1879), 
was  doing  a  business  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  a  year,  and 
under  his  able  handling  this  has  steadily  increased  until  at  the 
present  time  it  has  reached  over  a  million  and  a  half  per  annum. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  change  in  cost  of  production  and  in 
the  purchasing  power  of  a  dollar,  Mr.  Devlin  gives  the  fact  that 
merchandise  jobbed  by  him  fifteen  years  ago  for  fifteen  dollars  a 
(dozen  can  now  be  sold  in  the  market  for  six  dollars,  so  that  it  is 
now  possible  to  purchase  for  one  dollar  what  at  that  time  would 
have  cost  three  times  that  sum.  When  it  is  remembered  also  that 
while  ten  times  as  large  a  business  is  done  by  Mr.  Devlin's  depart- 
ment than  at  that  time,  yet  the  goods  are  about  one-third  cheaper, 
some  idea  can  be  formed  of  the  immense  number  of  cases  to  be 
handled  and  of  the  volume  of  business  transacted. 

In  regard  to  the  firm  with  which  he  is  connected,  Carson,  Pirie 
&  Scott  can  look  back  upon  a  constantly  growing  trade  year  bv 
year  until  now  they  rank  third,  and  possibly  second  to  any  house 
of  their  line  in  this  country. 

Mr.  Devlin  has  been  a  member  of  the  Columbus,  Sheridan,  and 


58  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OP    THE 

Iroquois  Clubs  for  years,  but  he  recently — much  to  the  regret  of 
his  fellow  members — resigned  from  all,  and  although  he  may  be 
induced  to  reconsider  such  action,  still  the  demands  upon  him 
physically  and  mentally  on  account  of  the  responsibility  of  his 
position  are  so  great  that  he  has  absolutely  no  leisure  for  club  life. 

Mr.  Devlin  has  visited  his  native  town  several  times  and  on 
several  occasions  also  has  traveled  over  Europe.  In  religion  he  is 
a  Roman  Catholic,  while  in  politics  he  still  considers  himself  a 
Democrat  and  has  always  voted  the  Democratic  National  ticket 
until  last  year,  when,  like  so  many  of  the  old  party,  he  voted  for 
McKinley.  In  local  politics  he  has  usually  been  more  interested 
in  aiding  some  friend  than  in  voting  for  any  party. 

Mr.  Devlin  was  married  May  28th,  1879,  to  Jennie  O'Reilly, 
daughter  of  Eugene  O'Reilly,  one  of  Chicago's  oldest  merchants, 
but  who  is  now  retired  after  acquiring  by  his  unaided  thrift  and 
industry  a  handsome  fortune.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Devlin  have  three 
children,  two  boys  and  one  girl.  A  great  lover  of  horses  and 
owning  one  of  the  finest  stables  in  the  city,  he  has  been  heard  to 
remark  that  what  with  his  horses  and  his  charming  family  he 
really  possesses  no  time  for  club  life,  or  indeed,  even  to  smoke 
cigars. 

Now  in  the  prime  of  life,  a  man  of  fine  physique,  of  genial  dis- 
position, and  of  courteous  though  naturally  prompt  manner,  Mr. 
Devlin  is  a  truly  representative  citizen,  an  honor  at  once  to  the 
city  in  which  he  lives  and  the  Irish  race  from  which  he  sprang. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  59 


JOHN  A.  LYNCH. 

John  A.  Lynch,  the  widely  known  and  very  highly  esteemed 
president  of  the  National  Bank  of  the  Kepublic,  is  a  native  of  Chi- 
cago, and  was  born  in  this  city  June  llth,  1853.  His  parents  were 
natives  of  County  Clare,  Ireland,  and  when  quite  young  came  to 
Chicago  in  1850,  his  father,  Thomas  Lynch,  for  some  forty  years 
carrying  on  one  of  the  principal  distilleries  of  this  city.  He  died  in 
1893. 

John  A.  Lynch  received  a  primary  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Chicago,  afterwards  graduating  from  Dyrenforth  Col- 
lege and  later  from  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Business  College,  receiving 
a  thorough  commercial  training,  which  thoroughly  equipped  him 
for  the  important  positions  he  was  destined  to  fill.  After  leaving 
college,  the  young  man  began  his  career  in  his  father's  distillery 
business,  starting  at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder  as  junior  clerk  and 
advancing  through  each  consecutive  grade  until  he  became  man- 
ager of  the  entire  business,  a  position  he  held  the  last  ten  years  of 
its  existence.  In  1891  he  was  elected  director  of  the  National  Bank 
of  the  Republic  and  also  a  member  of  its  finance  committee,  and  in 
the  following  year  became  the  president,  and  still  retains  that  high 
and  responsible  office. 

Mr.  Lynch  is  a  member  of  the  Bankers'  and  other  clubs.  His 
mind  has  been  broadened  by  considerable  travel;  he  has  crossed 
the  ocean  a  number  of  times  and  is  familiar  with  most  of  the  con- 
tinent of  Europe,  and  only  recently  has  returned  from  a  very  in- 
teresting oriental  trip.  In  his  religious  views  he  is  a  Roman  Cath- 
olic, while  in  politics  he  has  considered  himself  a  Democrat,  but, 
thoroughly  independent  in  his  views  and  action,  in  the  last  na- 
tional election  he  voted  for  McKinley. 


60  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

Mr.  Lynch  was  married  January  21st,  1896,  to  Miss  Clara  M. 
Schmahl,  daughter  of  the  late  John  Schmahl  of  this  city. 

From  the  very  beginning  of  liisi  business  career,  Mr.  Lynch  has 
been  a  hard  and  most  indefatigable  worker,  at  his  post  he  has 
usually  remained  ten  and  twelve  hours  every  day,  and  frequently 
even  has  worked  right  through  the  whole  twenty-four.  With  such 
heavy  duties  and  responsibilities,  it  is  evident  that  his  time  for 
other  occupations  or  for  recreation  has  been  very  limited,  and  yet 
Mr.  Lynch  is  a  man  of  highly  cultivated  tastes  and  of  esthetic  ideas, 
a  great  lover  of  art  and  literature,  indeed  in  the  former  being  con- 
sidered quite  a  connoisseur.  His  residence  at  44  Burton  Place  is  a 
delightful  dwelling,  built  in  the  Italian  Renaissance  style,  and  is 
adorned  internally  with  some  very  fine  pictures  and  other  works 
of  art.  Here  Mr.  Lynch,  who  is  a  man  of  most  courteous  and  genial 
manners  and  disposition,  delights  in  entertaining  his  many  warm 
and  devoted  friends,  wrho  respect  him  for  his  high  business  gifts 
and  esteem  for  his  good  personal  qualities. 


TIMOTHY  DAVID  HURLEY. 


Timothy  David  Hurley  is  a  young  American  Irishman  who  is 
as  proud  of  his  birth  and  of  his  descent  as  his  fellow  countrymen 
should  be  to  include  in  their  ranks  one  of  his  record  and  brilliant 
achievement.  He  is  a  young  man,  but  already  his  name  stands 
high  and  if  what  he  has  already  done  may  be  taken  as  fair  presage 
of  his  future  Irishmen  and  Americans  the  world  over  will  num- 
ber among  their  most  esteemed  representatives  the  subject  of 
the  present  sketch. 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  63 

He  was  born  in  Maysville,  Mason  County,  Ky.,  August  31st, 
1863,  of  parents  unfavored  by  fortune  but  rich  in  the  ability  to 
implant  in  their  son  the  principles  which  engender  success  and 
worldly  honor,  and  it  was  entirely  by  his  own  efforts,  through  his 
determination  of  will  and  good  power  of  application  that  he  man- 
aged to  secure  a  good  education  and  lay  a  sound  foundation  for 
his  after  work  in  life.  T.  D.  Hurley  is  the  son  of  Timothy  and 
Ellen  (McNainara)  Hurley,  both  natives  of  Blarney,  in  the  County 
of  Cork,  Ireland.  With  a  large  colony  of  Irish,  they  emigrated  to 
Kentucky  in  1850  and  settled  near  Maysville,  where  Mr.  Hurley 
was  married  and  the  subect  of  this  sketch  was  born.  As  a  boy  he 
was  of  an  extremely  studious  disposition,  but  unfortunate  circum- 
stances made  it  impossible  for  his  parents  to  continue  his  school- 
ing to  anything  like  the  extent  he  would  have  desired.  What  of 
education  he  received  was  obtained  at  the  Catholic  Parish  School, 
and  at  an  early  age  he  was  obliged  to  secure  employment  and  do 
all  he  could  towards  making  a  living  for  himself.  His  first  work, 
like  that  of  many  men  who  have  afterwards  won  renown,  was  as 
an  apprentice  to  a  printer,  and  of  this  trade  he  quickly  made  him- 
self master.  He  then  concluded  that  the  opportunities  for  a  young 
man  of  his  powers  and  ambitions  were  not  as  great  in  a  small 
town  as  they  would  be  in  a  city,  and  immediately  determined  to 
move  to  Chicago.  This  was  in  1882,  and  arrived  in  this  city  he 
found  employment  with  J.  J.  Spaulding  &  Co.,  job  printers,  and 
for  three  years  worked  in  their  office  and  in  other  job  offices.  It 
was  in  1885  that  he  decided  the  profession  of  the  law  was  that 
which  afforded  the  best  chances  for  his  life  work  and  then  the 
difficulty  arose  in  what  manner  could  he  obtain  the  necessary  legal 
training  and  still  work  at  the  trade,  which  it  was  necessary  for 
him  to  follow  to  make  his  living.  The  problem  he  had  to  solve 
was  a  very  difficult  one,  but  determination  and  energy  can  usually 
discover  means  and  he  made  an  arrangement  with  Mr.  Spauldiiig 

4 


64  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

by  which  lie  was  permitted  to  work  short  hours,  and  also  another 
with  the  Union  College  of  Law,  a  branch  of  the  North  Western 
University,  permitting  him  to  pay  for  his  tuition  by  doing  the  duty 
of  night  janitor  of  the  school.  His  faithful  service  was  rewarded 
in  the  second  year  by  the  printing  firm,  with  the  appointment  of 
sub-foreman,  and  part  of  his  work  in  the  job  office  was  done  during 
the  day  and  part  at  night,  while  at  the  same  time  he  continued  to 
pay  for  his  tuition  at  the  Law  College  by  caring  for  the  fires  and 
the  other  duties  of  a  janitor.  It  is  not  work,  however,  no  matter 
its  description,  that  can  lower  the  individual,  but  the  honest  and 
faithful  performance  that  elevates  and  ennobles  the  work.  Not- 
withstanding the  position  Mr.  Hurley  was  compelled  to  take  in  or- 
der to  secure  his  education,  his  fellow  students — broad-minded 
as  is  ever  the  characteristic  of  the  true  American — found  nothing 
to  sneer  at,  but  rather  much  to  admire  and  respect  in  their  plod- 
ding and  ambitious  companion.  This  was  well  illustrated  on 
many  occasions  and  one  is  well  deserving  of  mention.  On  Febru- 
ai'y  22nd  each  year — which  is  known  at  the  North  Western  Uni- 
versity as  University  Day — the  various  branches  of  the  college 
join  in  friendly  intercourse  in  a  dinner  and  to  carry  out  in  the 
accepted  manner  a  toastmaster  has  to  be  selected.  In  1887,  among 
the  students  at  the  Law  College  were  the  sons  of  many  wealthy 
and  influential  citizens  of  Chicago,  but  for  the  honored  and  re- 
sponsible position  of  toastmaster  not  one  of  these  was  chosen, 
but  in  token  of  their  esteem  and  confidence  in  his  ability,  Mr. 
Hurley  was  selected  to  act,  and  his  acquittal  of  the  requirements 
of  the  position  was  such  as  to  give  every  one  the  most  complete 
satisfaction.  On  that  occasion  his  toast  was,  "Come  ye  of  the  law 
and  talk  as  you  please,  until  the  man  in  the  moon  allow  'tis  green 
cheese,"  which,  while  affording  the  modest  a  good  opportunity  at 
a  dinner  table  would  assuredly  be  inadvisable  to  apply  to  the 
more  responsible  duties  of  members  of  the  legal  profession. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  65 

• 

The  year  lie  graduated,  he  was  again  given  a  chance  to  dis- 
tinguish himself.  The  Hamilton  Club,  a  college  debating  society, 
of  which  he  was  a  member,  was  in  the  habit  of  meeting  once  <i 
week  upon  some  chosen  subject  for  debate.  The  subject  at  one 
of  these  meetings  was,  "Resolved,  That  Ireland  Cannot  Govern 
Herself,"  and  three  students  were  selected  to  speak  for  the  con- 
tention, while  three  were  to  oppose.  To  Mr.  Hurley,  then  still 
acting  as  janitor,  was  given  the  important  part  of  closing  the  de- 
bate. A  large  crowd  was  present  and  the  speeches  made  were  on 
both  sides  full  of  sound  argument,  logical  and  strong.  At  last 
Mr.  Hurley's  turn  arrived.  From  his  youth  upwards,  he  had  been 
an  omniverous  reader,  and  having  takeji  particular  interest  in 
all  Irish  matters,  the  subject  was  one  in  which  he  was  well  posted. 
His  speech  was  a  splendid  one,  and  he  made  such  a  strong,  pow- 
erful argument  on  the  stand,  that  Ireland  if  allowed  to  govern 
herself  was  amply  fitted  so  to  do,  that  he  had  no  sooner  completed 
what  he  had  to  say  than  the  judges  universally  declared  in  his 
favor.  His  speech  was  a  surprise  to  everybody,  for  few  at  that  time 
knew  that  he  was  of  Irish  extraction. 

Having  graduated — this  was  in  1887 — he  at  once  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession  and  until  1892,  without  any  partner.  In 
that  year,  however,  he  associated  with  him  in  the  general  practice 
of  law,  Victor  K.  Koerner,  a  grandson  of  Gustavus  Koeruer  who 
was  for  many  years  on  the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  who 
still  remains  with  him  in  the  Reaper  Block.  While,  in  his  profes- 
sion, Mr.  Hurley  has  been  eminently  successful  and  his  time  con- 
sequently is  very  fully  occupied,  he  yet  manages  to  devote  every 
moment  he  can  spare  to  the  several  charitable  organizations  with 
which  he  has  been  closely  connected  for  many  years  past.  It.  has 
been  his  constant  practice  every  Sunday  to  visit  the  County  Poor 
House  and  to  attempt  to  alleviate  the  condition  of  the  unfortunate 
inmates  by  giving  them  some  enjoyment,  especially  in  recitation, 


66  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

which  has  always  been  one  of  his  chief  pleasures,  and  upon  one 
of  his  visits  in  1888,  he  and  a  few  others  he  had  induced  to  accom- 
pany him,  formed  what  has  since  become  a  powerful  Chicago  or- 
ganization of  good  and  most  charitable  purpose — the  Visitation 
ami  Aid  Society.    In  number  they  were  but  a  few  individuals,  but 
their  hearts  were  large,  and  charity  for  worthy  purpose  filled 
their  lives.    With  Mr.  Hurley  at  their  head,  his  office  used  as  the 
headquarters,  everything  possible  with  their  limited  number  and 
limited  means  was  done  until  finally  one  of  the  body  suggested 
that  the  organization  should  be  made  larger  and  a  dinner  given 
with  the  hope  of  creating  a  charitable  fund.    They  were  well  aware 
that  there  were  many  men  who  give  large  sums  of  money  each 
year  to  charity,  who  would  be  too  willing  to  take  part  in  such  a 
work.     The  suggestion  was  acted  upon  immediately,  Mrs.  John 
Cudahy  was  seen  by  Mr.  Hurley,  who  managed  to  interest  her  and 
secure  her  active  co-operation  as  well  as  the  promise  that  her 
husband  should  attend  the  dinner.    The  entertainment  was  given 
and  that  great  Irishman,  Mr.  John  Cudahy,  generous  and  free,  as  is 
typical  of  his  nationality,  went  personally  to  work  and  secured 
promises  from  ninety-four  persons  to  attend  the  dinner,  at  which, 
when  given,  $2,200  was  collected.     The  event  is  now  an  annual 
one.     Mr.  Chas.  A.  Mair  acts  as  toastmaster,  Mr.  Michael  Cudahy 
as  chairman,  and  his  brother,  John  Cudahy,  as  he  did  at  the  first, 
uses  all  his  powers  to  promote  and  make  a  success.    To  those  two 
brothers,  those  noble  hearted  Irishmen,  ably  assisted  by  Mr.  Mair, 
the  society  acknowledges  gratefully  its  indebtedness  for  the  power 
td  carry  out  all  the  good  it  now  does  in  the  city,  for  the  society 
really  acts  as  a  sort  of  clearing  house  for  charitable  enterprises. 
Its  agents  visit  the  police  courts  and  send  the  cases  of  destitution 
as  required  to  the  various  public  institutions.    At  the  same  time, 
the  sick  are  attended  to,  arrangements  have  been  made  with  all 
hospitals  to  receive  those  sent,  employment  is  procured  for  the 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  67 

unemployed,  and  an  agreement  entered  into  with  all  railroads  for 
a  half -fare  rate  for  those  they  desire  to  send  out  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Hurley  has  been  president  and  the  most  active  worker  ever 
since  the  society  was  organized,  with  the  exception  of  two  years, 
during  which  time  Charles  A.  Mair  held  the  office.  The  estimation 
in  which  the  society  is  held  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  in  this  coun- 
try it  is  the  only  one  of  its  kind  which  has  received  the  special 
blessing  of  his  Holiness,  the  Pope. 

Mr.  Hurley  holds  in  addition  the  important  and  responsible 
office  of  president  of  the  Illinois  State  Council  of  the  Catholic 
Benevolent  Legion,  the  leading  Catholic  fraternal  society  of  the 
country.  He  is  also  a  prominent  member  of  the  St.  Vincent  De 
Paul  Society. 

In  his  political  opinions,  Mr.  Hurley  is  a  Democrat,  but  as  will 
be  readily  understood  the  time  he  has  left  to  devote  to  politics 
is  not  very  great.  In  1895,  however,  he  was  a  candidate  for  the 
office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  to  which  he  was  recommended  on 
account  of  his  standing  at  the  bar  by  the  judges  of  the  Supreme, 
Circuit  and  County  Courts.  He  was  appointed  by  Governor  Alt- 
geld  upon  his  own  application,  but  having  failed  to  mix  sufficiently 
with  the  machine  politicians  they  united  to  oppose  him,  with  the 
result  that  the  Senate  would  not  confirm.  He  intended,  if  he  had 
received  the  office,  to  have  used  every  endeavor  to  elevate  it  in 
public  appreciation  and  to  have  made  it  in  reality  the  poor  man's 
court,  and  in  addition  to  securing  a  large  and  well  ventilated 
court  room,  to  have  made  other  much  needed  reforms  in  the  pres- 
ent system. 

In  Irish  affairs  Mr.  Hurley  has  always  been  most  interested, 
but  in  late  years  circumstances  have  not  led1  him  to  participate  as 
actively  as  was  formerly  the  case.  There  are  few  Catholics  in 
Chicago  better  known  than  he  is;  his  many  charitable  efforts 
bringing  him  into  prominent  connection  with  his  co-religionists. 


68  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Columbus  and  Jeffersonian  Clubs  and  also 
the  Third  Ward  Democratic  Club. 

He  was  married,  September  19th,  1889,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Mur- 
tha,  of  Chicago,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed  with  four  chil- 
dren, of  whom  two  boys,  Emmett  and  Gerald,  are  dead,  but  two 
little  girls,  Ethel  and  Dorothy,  brighten  his  home  and  lighten  and 
charm  the  limited  leisure  he  can  manage  to  obtain  from  his  heavy 
professional  duties  and  his  self  imposed  charitable  work. 


HON.  ELBR1DGE  HANECY. 


This  very  distinguished  member  of  the  Chicago  bar  was  born 
March  15th,  1852,  in  Trenton,  Wis.  His  descent  is  Scotch-Irish,  the 
family  having  settled  in  Wisconsin  about  the  year  1849.  Of  the 
parents  of  Judge  Hanecy,  his  father,  William  Hanecy,  fought  in  the 
Mexican  War  and  died  in  1853,  while  his  mother,  formerly  Mary 
Wales,  is  living  in  this  city  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-one. 

The  early  education  of  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch  was  re- 
ceived in  the  public  schools,  after  which  he  attended  the  University 
of  Milwaukee,  where  marked  proficiency  was  shown  in  his  studies. 
At  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  came  to  Chicago  in  1869,  and  determined 
to  study  law  and  take  up  the  legal  profession.  He  began  to  read 
with  Hervey,  Anthony  &  Gait — then  one  of  the  best  known  and 
ablest  legal  firms  in  the  city,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Illinois  bar 
September  llth,  1874. 

Mr.  Hanecy  immediately  devoted  himself  exclusively  to  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession,  and  from  the  commencement,  proved  himself 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO. 

a  most  diligent  and  thorough  student.  His  reward  was  satisfactory 
and  he  quickly  succeeded  in  building  up  an  extensive  and  well  pay- 
ing law  business,  having  for  his  clients  many  of  the  most  successful 
business  men  of  Chicago,  who  entrusted  to  his  charge  a  number  of 
very  important  and  notable  cases  adjudicated  in  the  local  courts. 
These  involved  interests  of  great  value,  and  upon  the  part  of  the  at- 
torney, intense  mental  and  physical  effort,  but  he  handled  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  gain  general  praise,  conducting  to  a  successful  con- 
clusion. Having  for  a  considerable  time  associated  himself  with 
Kobert  Hervey,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  before  referred  to,  he 
afterward  became  and  remained  for  some  time  the  senior  member 
of  the  law  firm  of  Hanecy  &  Merrick.  The  reputation  he  had  al- 
ready obtained  both  as  a  lawyer  and  in  the  Kepublican  party,  was 
evinced  by  his  receiving  by  acclamation,  in  1892,  the  nomination 
for  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court.  He  was,  however,  unsuccessful,  al- 
though he  led  his  party  ticket  by  several  thousand  votes,  and  on 
renomination  the  year  following,  once  more  by  acclamation,  he  was 
elected. 

While  at  the  bar,  Judge  Hanecy  obtained  the  reputation  of  an 
excellent  trial  lawyer,  and  on  the  bench,  his  ready  comprehension 
of  a  case  and  his  ability  to  dispatch  the  business  of  the  court,  have 
frequently  been  the  cause  of  wondering  admiration  on  the  part 
of  the  lawyers  who  practice  at  his  bar.  He  is  a  man  of  the  strictest 
integrity,  absolutely  high-minded,  and  entirely  honorable  in  all 
his  business  methods.  An  able  lawyer,  he  is  now  a  talented  and 
upright  judge,  and  the  possessor  of  gifts  of  the  strongest  judicial 
order:  moreover,  in  his  knowledge  of  the  law,  he  is  second  to  no 
judge  on  the  bench  of  Cook  County.  His  present  prominence  has 
been  won  by  absolute  merit,  and  there  is  no  question  that  the  re- 
gard of  his  fellow  citizens  and  of  his  professional  brethren  are  in- 
Creasing  as  each  term  of  court  passes  forward. 

His  standing  among  the  general  public  has  also  been  frequently 


70  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF   THE 

demonstrated.  It  is  the  custom  of  the  Brick  Layers  &  Stone  Ma- 
sons' Association,  and  also  of  the  Chicago  Contractors'  Associa- 
tion, to  elect  one  of  the  twenty-six  judges  of  Cook  County  as  um- 
pire, for  the  purpose  of  arbitration  in  cases  of  dispute  or  labor 
troubles.  Upon  three  occasions  Judge  Hanecy  has  been  selected 
to  act  in  this  capacity. 

He  was  married  March  1st,  1876,  to  Miss  Sarah  Barton,  the 
daughter  of  William  A.  Barton,  a  well  known  retired  contractor 
of  Chicago.  They  have  had  seven  children,  of  whom,  with  a  single 
exception,  all  are  living. 


JOHN  McGILLEN. 


Either  as  prominent  citizen,  representative  business  man,  or 
thorough  type  of  the  energetic  and  resourceful  Chicagoan,  the 
Hon.  John  McGillen  takes  a  high  place  in  any  community. 

Born  November  13th,  1861,  he  is  still  in  his  early  prime,  a  man 
who  has  already  done  sufficient  to  justify  the  faith  in  the  future 
he  will  achieve  great  things.  John  McGillen  was  born  on  South 
Water  Street,  Chicago,  in  one  of  the  oldest  landmarks  of  the  city, 
situated  between  Wabash  Avenue  and  State  Street.  His  parents, 
Edward  and  Catharine  (Doyle)  McGillen,  were  both  born  in  Ire- 
land and  of  good  Irish  origin.  Edward  McGillen  had  come  to  Chi- 
cago in  the  early  30's  when  only  eight  years  of  age,  with  a  grand- 
uncle,  James  Kearney.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  the  city,  being  afterward  one  of  its  most  respected  citi- 
zens. A  complete  genealogical  record  of  the  family  was  destroyed 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  73- 

in  1871  by  the  great  fire,  and  the  details  entirely  lost.  John  Mc- 
Gillen  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools  and  later  from 
the  Christian  Brothers.  He  left  the  latter  when  fourteen,  enter- 
ing an  abstract  office,  where  his  ability  and  trustworthiness 
quickly  obtained  for  him  a  position  of  responsibility.  For  four- 
teen years  he  remained  in  the  same  employ,  and  during  the  last 
four  was  in  charge  of  the  court  department  of  that  firm.  In  1889, 
fully  prepared  in  every  way  for  the  battle  of  life,  he  went  into 
business  with  John  P.  Agnew,  the  firm  being  later  completed  by 
the  addition  of  the  late  Francis  Agnew.  Such  a  combination  was 
bound  to  prove  a  successful  one,  and  the  firm  of  Agnew  &  Com- 
pany soon  became  known  as  one  of  the  leading  and  most  substan- 
tial concerns  in  the  western  States.  Of  the  contracts  undertaken, 
further  mention  is  given  in  the  sketch  of  the  life  of  the  late  Mr. 
Francis  Agnew,  which  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume,  but  par- 
ticular notice  is  necessary  to  the  construction  by  this  firm  of  the 
Liberal  Arts  and  Manufactures'  Building  of  the  World's  Colum- 
bian Exposition.  This  building,  the  largest  under  a  single  roof 
ever  erected  in  the  United  States,  or  indeed  in  any  other  country, 
covered  some  twenty-seven  acres,  and  was  an  absolute  marvel  of 
the  ingenuity  possible  to  engineering  science.  At  one  time  there 
were  1700  skilled  workmen  employed  upon  this  work, 

Mr.  McGillen  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Democrats  of 
Cook  County,  and  for  two  years,  until  the  pressure  of  private  busi- 
ness forced  him  to  withdraw,  its  chairman.  He  was  afforded  an 
opportunity  to  show  his  power  and  influence  at  the  time  the  late 
Mr.  Carter  Harrison  and  ex-Mayor  John  P.  Hopkins  were  elected. 
For  six  years  also  he  was  a  member  of  the  City  Council,  where  he 
quickly  made  his  mark,  and  upon  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Cullerton,. 
was  appointed  to  the  chairmanship  of  the  finance  committee,  an 
office  of  great  responsibility,  but  which  his  natural  abilities  en- 
abled him  to  fill  to  the  satisfaction  of  every  one  concerned. 


74  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

During  the  World's  Fair,  he  was  one  of  the  six  representatives 
of  the  Council  deputed  to  receive  the  naval  representatives  of  the 
great  powers,  his  special  task  being  the  entertainment  of  the  Ger- 
man contingent.  Here  Mr.  McGillen  was  well  at  home,  for  in  his 
ward  on  the  north  side  the  Teutonic  element  is  peculiarly  strong, 
and  his  genial  manners  had  made  for  him  many  intimate  friends 
therein. 

Mr.  McGillen  is  a  thorough  Catholic.  He  was  married  in  1894 
to  the  talented  and  amiable  daughter  of  the  well  known  Chica- 
goan,  Mr.  M.  A.  Devine.  His  disposition  is  of  a  thoroughly  com- 
panionable character,  and  he  is  a  member  of  several  social  clubs, 
including  the  Germania  and  Waubansea. 

His  present  position  in  the  business  world  is  the  result  of  con- 
tinual and  unremitting  work,  straightforward  honest  dealing  in 
every  transaction,  and  absolute  fidelity  in  all  particulars  towards 
his  friends.  His  career  is  eminently  typical  of  the  successful  Chi- 
cagoan — a  man  thorough  in  all  his  ways  and  doings,  fearlessly  fol- 
lowing the  path  he  has  started  upon,  and  allowing  no  deviation 
until  he  has  won  the  goal  of  every  man  who  is  worth  the  name, 
success. 


MICHAEL  WHELAN   MURPHY. 


Michael  W.  Murphy  was  born  October  6th,  1844,  at  Hartland, 

McHenry  County,  111.,  where  his  father,  Patrick  E.  Murphy,  who 

had  left  Ireland  when  a  boy,  had  settled  on  a  farm.    The  latter 

afterward  entered  the  grocery  business  in  Woodstock,  111.,  where 

he  died  in  1869.     For  years  he  was  a  prominent  and  well  known 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  75 

citizen  of  that  place,  and  was  held  in  high  regard  by  the  com- 
munity. His  wife,  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  and  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-five 
y< -sirs,  is  now  residing  in  Chicago. 

Michael  W.  Murphy  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and 
afterward  attended  the  college  of  St.  Mary's  of  the  Lake,  Chicago, 
where  he  graduated  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Science  in 
1865.  He  then  attended  the  Union  College  of  Law  of  this  city  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1868.  Two  years  was  spent  in  the  law 
office  of  Monroe  &  McKinnon,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  book-keeper  in  a  mercantile  house  with  the 
intention  of  returning  to  the  law  later  on.  This,  however,  he 
never  did.  In  1878  he  was  engaged  as  book-keeper  and  cashier 
for  M.  W.  Kerwin  in  the  wholesale  liquor  business  at  35  South 
Water  Street,  and  filled  that  position  most  efficiently  until  May, 
1883,  when  he  was  given  an  interest  in  the  business,  and  the  firm 
became  M.  W.  Kerwin  &  Co.  Mr.  Kerwin  retired  May,  1888,  having 
disposed  of  his  interest  to  Mr.  Murphy,  and  the  firm  shortly  after- 
ward became  Delaney  &  Murphy,  occupying  the  same  extensive 
premises  they  now  occupy,  10  and  12  Wabash  Avenue. 

Mr.  Murphy  is  a  member  of  several  social  clubs  and  charitable 
organizations.  He  is  a  Catholic  and  a  Democrat,  but  independent 
in  his  political  action.  Nearly  every  place  of  interest  in  the  United 
States  and  in  Europe  has  been  visited  by  him  and  in  the  latter  he 
spent  a  year  with  his  family  in  1895  and  1896. 

Mr.  Murphy  married  in  December,  1871,  Mary  J.  Synon,  who 
was  at  the  time  principal  of  one  of  the  grammar  schools  of  the 
city.  She  was  a  woman  of  most  charming  personal  appearance 
and  lovable  character.  She  died  in  1879,  leaving  three  daughters, 
Veronica,  Ursula  and  Mary  Irene. 

Even  by  this  brief  sketch  it  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Murphy 
has  made  a  marked  success  in  his  business  career,  yet  many  of 


76  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

those  who  knew  him  as  a  law  student  are  inclined  to  regret  he 
did  not  follow  that  profession,  in  which  undoubtedly  he  would 
have  made  a  brilliant  and  honorable  record.  Mr.  Murphy  is  a  man 
who  gains  and  retains  the  affection  and  esteem  of  all  who  know 
him,  always  kindly  and  generous,  courteous  and  genial,  he  is  at  the 
same  time  a  man  of  thoroughly  dignified  bearing  and  manner. 


KICKHAM  SCANLAN. 


The  characteristics  and  qualifications  necessary  to  the  attain- 
ment of  eminence  in  the  legal  profession  are  of  so  peculiar  and 
varied  a  character  that  few  men  are  found  to  possess.  Among 
them  must  be  a  mind  of  extraordinary  activity,  with  great  re- 
ceptive power  and  yet  equally  retentive,  a  will  strong  to  assert 
and  indomitable  in  resolution  and  persistence,  a  spirit  upright 
and  unfearing,  fired  with  faithful  and  honorable  purpose.  Perhaps 
it  is  in  the  legal  profession  more  than  in  any  other  that  these  gifts 
and  talents  have  an  opportunity  to  display  themselves.  The 
reason  is  not  difficult  to  discover.  The  essentials  of  success  are 
labor  unceasing,  energy  unrecognisive  of  unsurmountable  diffi- 
culty, patience  unlimited,  and  perpetual  perseverance.  The  prizes 
offered  to  the  eminent  are  numerous  and  splendid,  but  talent 
alone  cannot  conquer;  prolonged  and  arduous  effort  must  ever 
accompany.  Of  Kickham  Scanlan,  yet  in  the  early  thirties,  how- 
ever guardedly  one  must  speak  on  the  score  of  youth,  it  may  be 
stated  unhesitatingly  and  beyond  fear  of  question,  that  no  young^ 
lawyer  to-day  in  Chicago  gives  nobler  promise  of  future  grand 
achievement. 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  79 

It  was  at  one  time  asked  of  a  judge  whose  abilities  had  raised 
him  far  above  his  fellows,  to  explain  the  secret  of  his  success.  He 
made  reply,  "Some  succeed  in  the  legal  profession  by  extraordinary 
natural  gifts,  some  by  good  fortune  that  is  practically  miraculous, 
but  the  great  majority  in  addition  to  great  gifts  from  mother  na- 
ture, have  plodding  and  perseverance  made  a  part  of  their  lives, 
for  they  have  commenced  without  a  dollar."  To  that  great  ma- 
jority also  the  subject  of  this  sketch  belongs,  for  he  is  eminently  a 
self -made  man. 

The  name  of  Scanlan  is  one  dear  to  the  hearts  of  every  true 
Irish  American,  for  with  it  are  connected  associations  of  the 
noblest  patriotism  and  the  truest  manliness.  Kickham  Scanlan 
was  born  in  this  city  October  23d,  1864,  and  is  the  son  of  Michael 
and  Nellie  (Hogan)  Scanlan.  His  father,  born  1836,  at  Castle 
Mahon,  County  Limerick,  Ireland,  which  was  the  native  county  of 
his  mother  also,  had  come  to  America  a  child  of  seven  with  his 
mother.  He  is  essentially  a  self-educated  man,  and  was  little 
more  than  a  child  when  the  necessities  of  daily  life  forced  him  to 
lind  work.  The  years  of  discretion  reached,  he  was  ambitious  to 
be  his  own  master,  and  in  company  with  his  brother,  Edward, 
founded  a  candy  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Scanlan  Bros. 
Though  so  young,  when  he  left  Ireland's  green  shores,  the  affairs 
of  his  native  land  were  to  him  of  paramount  interest.  lie  identi- 
fied himself  with  every  movement  that  had  Ireland's  good  for  a 
purpose,  until  he  became  recognized  as  a  leader  of  the  American 
Irish.  In  1866,  to  keep  his  fellow  countrymen  better  in  touch 
with  what  was  going  on  in  the  old  land  and  among  its  workers 
and  sympathizers  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  he  founded  an  Irish 
newspaper,  named  by  him  the  "Irish  Republic."  Two  years  later 
he  became  convinced  that  his  design  could  be  more  advantageously 
carried  out  if  the  paper's  headquarters  were  removed  to  a  more 
populous  and  more  active  center,  and  consequently  he  left  Chi- 


80  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

cago  and  located  in  New  York  City.  There  bis  journalistic  enter- 
prise continued  its  publication  until  1872,  when  he  moved  his 
headquarters  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  continued  there  for  an- 
other twelve  months.  Then  a  position  was  offered  to  him  in  the 
Bureau  of  Statistics  of  the  Department  of  State,  and  in  that  posi- 
tion he  has  since  remained.  A  poet  and  a  prose  writer  of  world- 
wide reputation;  a  man  who  has  indeed  music  in  his  heart;  an 
authority  of  well  recognized  excellence  upon  all  matters  affecting 
Ireland;  a  liberal  contributor  of  Irish  publications;  he  has  since 
remained  in  Washington,  although  his  dearest  home  is  the  hearts 
of  the  Irish  people  all  over  the  world,  who  revere  and  love  his 
name. 

From  the  son  of  such  a  father,  great  things  might  well  be 
anticipated.  These  have  indeed  been  gratified.  Kickham  Scan- 
Ian  received  his  primary  education  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  followed 
by  a  course  in  the  Notre  Dame  University,  at  South  Bend,  Ind. 
Here  he  graduated  in  1879,  afterwards  attending  the  high  school 
at  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  after  that  undergoing  a  special  course 
in  English  and  classics  for  one  year  in  the  same  place.  His  early 
training  was  liberal  and  thorough,  and  was  a  fit  preparation  for 
the  profession  he  has  chosen.  After  leaving  school  he  entered  the 
employ  of  the  well  known  mine  and  coal  merchant,  Colonel  W. 
P.  Rend,  with  whom  he  remained  three  years,  during  the  last 
twelve  months  taking  charge  of  the  Detroit  branch  office.  De- 
termined to  be  a  lawyer,  he  connected  himself  with  Chicago's 
orator  and  great  criminal  lawyer,  Luther  Laflin  Mills,  and  with 
the  late  George  C.  Ingham,  who  died  in  1892.  Kickham  Scanlan 
was  an  apt  pupil  and  showed  himself  entirely  worthy  of  his  great 
masters.  As  a  criminal  lawyer  he  stands  to-day  with  few,  if  any, 
equals  in  the  West.  He  has  demonstrated  his  fine  capabilities  in 
that  branch  of  the  profession  in  very  many  cases,  which  are  now 
famous,  and  which  have  gained  him  national  fame.  In  this  con- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO. 

uection  may  be  mentioned  the  Cronin  trials,  in  which  he  appeared 
as  counsel  for  the  State.  With  the  merits  of  that  case,  a  merely 
biographical  work  has  absolutely  nothing  to  do,  and  it  is  sufficient 
to  direct  attention  to  the  masterly  ability  displayed  by  Kickham 
Scanlan  as  State  Prosecutor.  It  was,  however,  in  the  opening 
speech  in  the  second  trial,  over  which  he  occupied  three  days,  that 
that  opportunity  came  which  well  taken  at  its  flood  has  brought 
him  to  fortune.  Another  noted  case  in  which  Mr.  Scanlan  figured 
for  the  defense,  was  the  famous  trial  of  W.  J.  McGarigle,  in  1887, 
charged  with  complicity  in  the  county  commissioners'  frauds.  An- 
other notable  case  of  his  was  the  defense  of  Louis  Jacobson  for 
arson  in  connection  with  Chicago  Bedding  Company's  plant  at 
Keuosha,  in  1895,  when,  of  five  defendants,  his  client  alone  ob- 
tained acquittal.  Mention  may  also  be  made  of  the  Millinghan 
poisoning  case,  at  Denver,  in  which  he  was  engaged  with  Luther 
Laflin  Mills;  the  "tally  sheets"  frauds  cases,  at  Columbus,  O.,  and 
the  Graham  Hanks  jury  bribery  case.  The  latter  is  famous  as  the 
first  conviction  ever  obtained  in  a  similar  charge  west  of  the  Alle- 
ghanies.  Since  1891  he  has  had  an  office  of  his  own,  and  has  been 
engaged  in  general  practice.  In  the  Yon  King  murder  case,  he 
managed  to  obtain  acquittal  for  his  three  Chinese  clients;  in  the 
Edwin  Kohn  case,  where  a  letter  carrier  confessed  to  stealing  a 
decoy  letter,  Judge  Grosscup  discharged  him  on  a  technicality 
taken  by  Scanlan,  that  a  decoy  letter  was  not  such  a  letter  as  the 
statute  contemplated;  in  the  Barnes  Jordan  murder  case,  which 
he  defended,  and  secured  the  acquittal  of  Donahue  and  Barbee; 
in  the  case  where  Commissioner  Thomas  J.  McNichols  had  been  in- 
dicted for  bribery  on  a  charge  made  by  Judge  John  Barton  Payne, 
of  the  Superior  Court,  he  was  again  instrumental  in  obtaining  an 
acquittal.  These  examples  alone  are  sufficient  to  stamp  him  as 
one  of  the  leading  and  most  brilliant  trial  lawyers  of  to-day.  In- 
deed, to  record  the  many  prominent  cases  in  which  he  has  partici- 


82  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

pated,  either  for  the  State  or  the  defense,  would  be  to  give  a  fairly 
representative  history  of  that  branch  of  jurisprudence  in  Chicago 
of  late  years.  Recently  Mr.  Scanlan  is  devoting  most  of  his  time 
to  the  civil  branch  of  the  law. 

Mr.  Scanlan  is  a  speaker  and  an  orator,  yet  his  great  earnest- 
ness and  force  of  manner  do  not  need  and  are  not  accompanied  by 
any  wild  bursts  of  fancy.  He  is  convincing  because  he  acts  on 
reason  and  uses  clear  and  logical  methods.  With  the  details  of 
every  case  undertaken  he  most  fully  acquaints  himself,  nothing  is 
too  small  to  investigate  that  .might  have  bearing  upon  the  case 
he  is  handling;  no  matter  is  too  great,  no  person  too  high  to  be 
drawn  upon  for  assistance  if  the  necessities  of  his  client's  case  so 
require.  He  is  gifted  with  a  strange  knowledge  of  human  nature, 
his  keenness  and  sagacity  enabling  him  to  detect  much  a  witness 
may  be  anxious  to  conceal  and  to  extract  important  facts  from 
what  seemingly  may  be  entirely  immaterial  to  the  issue. 

Mr.  Scanlan  is  an  active  member  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1896  was  very  prominently  mentioned  for  the 
nomination  of  State's  Attorney.  There  is  no  gift  in  the  power 
of  the  party  to  which  he  may  not  confidently  aspire  should  the 
necessities  and  obligations  of  his  present  large  private  practice 
permit  him  to  accept. 

Professional  success  has  in  no  ways  tended  to  diminish  Mr. 
Scanlan's  genial  social  qualities.  He  is  at  all  times  a  charming 
companion,  a  man  of  well  cultivated  literary  tastes  and  with  a 
truly  Irish  devotion  to  music  and  song.  He  was  married  January 
2d,  1890,  to  Miss  Sadie  Conway,  daughter  of  Michael  W.  Conway, 
the  long  well  known  assistant  fire  marshal,  and  who  is  now  fire 
inspector.  Their  hospitable  home,  which  now  possesses  the  addi- 
tional charm  of  several  children,  is  always  free  and  open  to  the 
large  circle  of  friends  which  true  courtesy  and  large-hearted  lib- 
erality have  drawn  together. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  83 


THOMAS  HENRY   CANNON. 


One  of  the  leading  fraternal  associations  among  members  of 
the  Catholic  faith  at  the  present  time  is  the  organization  known 
as  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  and  prominently  identified  with 
it  during  the  last  eight  years  is  the  name  heading  this  article. 
That  the  order  has  had  a  wonderful  growth  during  the  period 
mentioned,  a  glance  at  the  records  conclusively  shows,  and  this 
must  be  attributed  to  the  wisdom,  judgment  and  ability  of  those 
who  have  controlled  its  management,  and  chief  of  these  is  Thomas 
H.  Cannon. 

Mr.  Cannon  wk's  born  in  Chicago,  January  23d,  1864,  sou  of 
the  late  Thomas  Cannon,  for  many  years  prominently  identified 
with  the  Republican  party  of  this  city.  Thomas  Cannon  was  a 
native  of  County  Leitrim,  Ireland,  whence  he  came  to  Chicago 
in  1851.  For  many  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  teaming  business 
in  the  employ  of  the  old  Galena  Railway.  He  represented  the 
Seventeenth  Ward — now  the  Twenty-third — of  the  city  in  the  Com- 
mon Council  1872  to  1874,  and  at  the  same  time  and  subsequently 
was  a  justice  of  the  peace  on  the  North  Side.  lie  died  in  1882 
at  the  age  of  fifty -three  years.  His  wife,  Mary  Walsh,  to  whom 
he  was  married  in  1856,  was  a  native  of  County  Mayo,  and  removed 
to  Chicago  with  her  parents  in  1853.  Increasing  years  press  light- 
ly upon  her,  and  she  still  resides  in  this  city  and  is  now  one  of  the 
oldest  members  of  the  Cathedral  congregation.  To  them  were 
born  ten  children,  of  whom  six  survive,  our  subject  being  the  only 

surviving  son.     His  sisters  are  all  residents  of  Chicago. 
5 


84  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

Thomas  II.  Cannon  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  schools, 
graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1881.  His  first  employment 
was  in  a  wholesale  grocery,  and  later  he  was  in  Maxwell's  book 
store.  Thence  he  went  to  D.  Appleton  &  Company,  and  continued 
with  that  firm  and  their  successors  in  the  school  book  business 
(the  American  Book  Company)  until  1892,  having  been  traveling 
salesman  for  them  for  three  years.  In  September,  1890,  he  com- 
menced a  course  in  the  Chicago  College  of  Law.  He  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  June,  1892,  when  he  severed  his  connection  with  the 
American  Book  Company,  and  subsequently  took  a  post  graduate 
course  at  the  same  law  college.  He  is  now  associated  with  Mr. 
James  H.  Poage  in  the  legal  firm  of  Cannon  &  Poage,  and  ranks 
as  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Chicago  bar. 

In  1887  Mr.  Cannon  joined  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters, 
and  was  elected  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  in  1891.  The 
following  year,  he  was  elected  High  Secretary  and  served  until 
June,  1894,  when  he  was  elected  High  Chief  Ranger.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1895,  and  again  in  February,  1897,  he  was  unanimously  re- 
elected  to  this  position  at  the  head  of  the  order. 

The  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  had  its  origin  in  Holy  Family 
Parish,  Chicago.  The  members  of  the  parish  had  long  felt  the 
need  of  an  association  for  Catholic  men  which  would  supply  the 
benefits  of  a  fraternal  insurance  society  to  their  Catholic  fellow 
citizens.  After  many  preliminary  meetings,  a  temporary  court 
was  organized  and  application  was  made  to  the  State  of  Illinois 
for  a  charter,  which  was  granted  on  May  20th,  1883.  Several 
courts  were  immediately  organized  and  the  organization  began  to 
llourish.  About  five  hundred  members  were  secured  during  the 
first  year. 

Sixteen  courts  were  organized  in  Chicago  before  the  organiza- 
tion extended  beyond  Cook  County.  The  first  court  organized  out- 
side of  Cook  County  was  at  Somonauk,  111.  The  membership  of  the 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  85 

first  nineteen  courts  was  confined  to  the  French  and  Irish  national- 
ities. The  twentieth  court  was  composed  exclusively  of  Germans, 
and  since  its  organization  German  Catholics  have  rapidly  joined  the 
order,  so  that  they  are  to-day  perhaps  as  numerous  as  any  other 
nationality.  Subsequent  organizations  were  confined  to  the  city 
of  Chicago  until  Courts  49,  53  and  60,  located  respectively  at 
Springfield,  Waukegan  and  liockford,  111.,  were  admitted  to  mem- 
bership. The  order  made  its  entry  into  Wisconsin  on  September 
llth,  1887,  when  Holy  Rosary  Court  No.  67  was  organized  at  Mil- 
waukee. Gradually  one  by  one  the  neighboring  states  were  ad- 
mitted, until  to-day  the  C.  O.  F.  is  organized  in  every  northern 
state  from  Maine  to  California.  Meantime  the  fame  of  the  order 
has  spread  across  the  border  into  Canada,  and  on  August  14th, 
1888,  Court  No.  86,  the  first  court  in  the  Province  of  Canada,  was 
organized.  At  the  present  time,  fully  one-third  of  the  courts  and 
one-third  of  the  membership  of  the  order  is  located  in  Canada. 

During  its  existence  the  C.  O.  F.  has  paid  out  |2,000,000  in 
endowments  for  the  relief  of  the  widows,  orphans,  and  dependents 
of  deceased  members;  $500,000  has  been  expended  in  the  payment 
of  sick  benefits  and  funeral  expenses.  This  most  remarkable  rec- 
ord has  been  achieved  during  the  brief  period  of  fourteen  years. 
With  its  membership  of  fifty  thousand,  comprised  in  seven  hundred 
courts,  and  with  its  low  rate  of  assessments,  the  C.  O.  F.  can 
to-day  justly  claim  to  be  the  greatest  Catholic  organization  upon 
the  American  continent.  It  is  confidently  expected  that  its  quar- 
ter centennial  will  show  a  membership  of  one  hundred  thousand. 

Mr.  Cannon  was  a  charter  member  and  first  president  of  the 
Sons  of  Chicago,  organized  in  1892.  He  is  a  resident  of  the  Cathe- 
dral parish,  taking  an  active  interest  in  all  church  matters. 

That  Mr.  Cannon  is  popular,  especially  among  the  younger  ele- 
ment in  Catholic  circles,  is  evidenced  by  the  honors  conferred  upon 


86  BIOGRAPHICAL,    HISTORY    OF    THE 


him,  while  the  ability  and  judgment  displayed  in  the  conduct  of 
his  high  position  at  the  head  of  the  Order  of  Foresters  well  justifies 
its  confidence  and  the  trust  reposed  in  him  by  the  thousands  of 
its  members. 


FRANK    G.  HOYNE. 

Frank  G.  Hoyne  was  born  in  this  city  July  17th,  1854,  his 
father  being  a  well  known  lawyer  of  Chicago,  Thomas  Hoyne,  who 
came  from  Ireland  and  settled  in  this  city  in  1837.  The  mother  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Virginia,  but  came  to  Chi- 
cago in  1833,  being  married  to  Thomas  Hoyne  in  1840. 

Frank  G.  Hoyne  was  educated  in  the  University  of  Chicago, 
but  left  before  graduating  to  accompany  Professor  Stafford  on  a 
western  trip,  the  latter  being  under  engagement  by  the  govern- 
ment to  make  a  new  war  map  of  Kansas  and  Colorado.  In  1872 
the  young  man  returned  from  surveying  and  entered  the  firm  of 
Culver,  Page,  Hoyne  &  Co.,  blank  book  manufacturers,  starting 
at  a  salary  of  five  dollars  a  week  and  advancing  till  be  became 
superintendent  of  the  city  manufacturing  department.  With  this 
firm  he  remained  until  they  sold  out  in  1884,  when  he  joined  his 
brother,  James  T.  Hoyne,  in  the  real  estate  business  under  the 
firm  name  of  Hoyne  Brothers,  and  still  retains  an  interest. 

In  1886  Mr.  Hoyne  was  appointed  United  States  Appraiser, 
during  President  Cleveland's  first  administration,  the  office  being 
retained  until  1890.  Four  years  later  he  was  reappointed  to  the 
same  office  during  Cleveland's  second  term,  and  has  held  that  re- 
sponsible position  to  very  general  satisfaction  up  to  the  present 
time. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  89 

Mr.  Hoyne,  who  has  always  been  a  warm  advocate  for  athletic- 
sports  of  all  kinds,  is  a  member  of  the  Chicago  Athletic  Club,  of 
which  indeed  he  was  one  of  the  original  members.  He  was  also 
one  of  the  organizers  and  principal  movers  in  the  establishment 
of  the  Iroquois  Club,  and  is  still  an  active  member  thereof. 

Mr.  Hoyne  was  married  in  1884  to  Miss  Florence  Ashton, 
daughter  of  Congressman  Washington  Ashton,  of  Virginia,  a  lin- 
eal descendant  of  the  George  Washington  family.  He  has  two 
daughters,  Leonora  and  Helen. 

Mr.  Hoyne  has  always  been  a  Democrat,  and  before  holding 
public  office  was  Vice-President  of  the  Cook  County  Democracy. 
In  his  religious  views  and  associations  he  is  independent,  taking 
an  interest  in  religion  and  religious  work  without  affiliating  him- 
self with  any  particular  denomination. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  had  some  military  experience. 
He  joined  the  First  Regiment  Infantry  in  1875,  and  remained  with 
the  regiment  until  1880,  when  he  was  appointed  by  Brigadier-Gen- 
eral J.  T.  Torrence  (then  commanding  the  First  Brigade)  to  the 
position  of  Brigade  Quartermaster.  When  General  Torrence  re- 
signed, which  was  in  1885,  Mr.  Hoyne  also  retired,  and  entered  the 
Veteran  Corps  of  the  First  Regiment,  in  which  organization  he 
still  takes  an  active  interest. 

Even  by  this  brief  sketch  it  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Hoyne  has 
been  eminently  successful  in  all  he  has  undertaken,  and  the  re- 
sponsible office  he  holds  tells  of  no  mean  honor  from  his  country 
to  a  man  who  is  still  so  young.  Before  him  there  is,  beyond  doubt, 
a  distinguished  career,  as  well  as  opportunity  for  cultivating  and 
enjoying  the  literary  and  musical  tastes  which  are  so  characteris- 
tic of  this  well  known  and  universally  respected  American  Irish- 
man. 


90  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 


AUSTIN    JOSEPH    DOYLE. 


The  ability  to  grasp  opportunity  is  one  of  the  chief  essentials  of 
worldly  success  and  when  united  to  energy  and  perseverance,  the 
result  is  absolutely  placed  beyond  doubt.  Possibly  there  is  some- 
thing natural  to  those  of  Irish  birth  or  Irish  descent  in  this  fore- 
seeing gift,  for  it  is  a  fact  chat  in  that  nationality  more  perhaps 
than  in  any  other,  such  outcome  has  been  demonstrated.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  is  a  striking  example. 

Austin  J.  Doyle  was  born  in  Chicago,  September  18th,  1849. 
His  parents,  Peter  and  Ellen  (McDonald)  Doyle,  were  both  natives 
of  County  Wexford,  Ireland,  being  born  there  in  1804,  of  truly  pa- 
triotic stock,  for  the  father  of  each  of  them  had  participated  in 
the  Irish  rebellion,  being  present  at  the  battle  of  Vinegar  Hill, 
Wexford,  in  1798.  They  had  six  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is 
the  youngest.  Peter  Doyle  was  in  fairly  comfortable  circumstan- 
ces and  died  in  Chicago  in  1852. 

Austin  J.  Doyle  obtained  his  education  at  the  school  of  the 
Christian  Brothers  and  at  St.  Patrick's  Commercial  Academy.  He 
began  active  life  at  the  early  age  of  thirteen,  his  first  employment 
being  with  the  firm  of  W.  M.  Boss  &  Company — now  Carson,  Pirie 
&  Scott — where  he  had  the  position  of  parcel  boy,  becoming  a  little 
later  collector  for  the  same  concern.  His  next  situation  was  with 
Daniel  O'Hara,  Clerk  of  the  Recorder's  Court,  and  here  as  deputy 
clerk  he  remained  for  eight  years,  for  the  last  five  years  as  chief. 
While  deputy  clerk  and  employed  under  Judge  McAllister  he 
read  law  and  was  admitted  January,  1870,  when,  however,  he  con- 
tinued to  retain  his  position.  In  1873  he  was  elected  as  Clerk  of 
the  Criminal  Court  against  W,  K.  Sullivan,  serving  until  1877, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  91 

when  upon  appointment  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  the  north  side, 
he  resigned,  but  only  to  hold  the  latter  appointment  for  six  mouths, 
when  he  resigned  that  also  and  spent  half  a  year  in  Kansas.  Re- 
turning  to  Chicago,  his  close  personal  friend,  the  late  Carter  II. 
Harrison,  gave  him,  in  June,  1879,  the  appointment  of  secretary 
to  the  police  department,  and  in  this  association  with  Superin- 
tendent Joseph  P.  Barrett,  he  was  the  originator  of  the  present 
police  patrol  system  of  Chicago.  November,  1882,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Superintendent  of  Police,  remaining  such  until  October 
15th,  1885,  and  resigning  to  become  superintendent  of  the  Chicago 
Passenger  Railway.  The  latter  was  a  horse  car  line,  and  in  1887, 
it  was  absorbed  by  the  West  Side  Street  Car  Company,  Mr.  Doyle 
remaining  as  superintendent  until  July,  1890.  In  the  meantime, 
he  had  been  elected  Clerk  of  the  Sanitary  District,  but  resigned 
after  a  couple  of  months,  being  tendered  the  responsible  post  of 
General  Manager  of  the  McAvoy  Brewing  Company,  where  he  re- 
mained until  January,  1892,  when  he  wras  elected  President  of  the 
Company.  He  served  until  February,  1896,  when  the  United  States 
Brewing  Company  was  organized,  and  the  following  six  plants, 
the  Val.  Blatz;  the  Michael  Brand  Brewing  Company;  Bartholo- 
mae  &  Roesing;  Bartholomae  &  Leicht;  Ernest  Brothers,  and  K. 
G.  Schmidt,  with  the  total  output  of  750,000  barrels  per  annum 
thereby  absorbed. 

He  was  married  in  1870,  to  Miss  Ellen  Donnelly,  of  Chicago, 
who  died  in  1877,  leaving  twro  children,  Austin  J.  Doyle,  Jr.,  and 
Agnes.  In  1883,  Mr.  Doyle  was  again  married  to  Pauline  Weis- 
haar,  of  Chicago,  and  they  have  six  children — Joseph,  Frank,  Rob- 
ert Emmet,  Paul,  Marion,  and  Frederick. 

Though  Mr.  Doyle's  mind  is  essentially  of  a  business  charac- 
ter, his  disposition  leads  him  to  find  his  chief  delight  and  recrea- 
tion in  his  home  life,  yet  still  he  finds  time  to  be  active  in  member- 
ship of  the  Sheridan  and  Columbus  Clubs,  He  is  also  a  member  of 


92  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OP   THE 

the  Catholic  Benevolent  Legion,  the  Police  Benevolent  Society  and 
the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters.  In  religion  he  is  a  Roman 
Catholic,  and  his  political  views  are,  and  have  always  been,  those 
of  the  Democratic  party. 

The  career  thus  roughly  sketched  is  sufficient  to  show  the  many 
difficulties  conquered,  how  every  chance  was  utilized  to  the  ut- 
most, and  how  a  life  unassisted  by  outside  advantages  was  able  to 
raise  itself  to  a  position  of  power  and  influence,  making  the  name 
of  Austin  J.  Doyle  at  once  a  source  of  pride  and  an  honor  to  the 
city  of  his  birth,  as  well  as  to  the  land  of  his  forefathers. 


JAMES  C.  MCSHANE. 

James  C.  McShane,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  of  Irish 
parents  on  December  12th,  1862,  at  Litchfield,  Illinois.  He  was 
reared  at  Mattoon,  111.,  and  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  that  city.  After  leaving  school  he  found  em- 
ployment for  some  time  in  the  office  of  the  master  mechanic  of  the 
Big  Four  Railroad,  and  afterwards  learned  a  trade  in  the  railroad 
shops,  working  here  for  three  years,  while  all  his  leisure  time  was 
devoted  to  reading  law.  He  continued  in  this  manner  until  1885, 
when  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Craig  &  Craig  of  Mattoon,  where 
he  remained  as  a  law  student  until  1887,  when  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  at  Springfield,  taking  the  head  place  of  a  large  class. 

While  studying  law  at  Mattoon  in  1885,  and  then  but  twenty- 
three  years  of  age,  he  was  elected  to  the  City  Council  of  that  city, 
a  position  he  served  with  honor  and  distinction.  Immediately 
upon  being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  came  to  Chicago,  where  he 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession,  associating  himself  with 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  95 

Col.  Robert  Rae,  one  of  the  old  and  acknowledged  leaders  of  the 
Chicago  bar.  A  few  years  later  he  formed  a  law  partnership  with 
Henry  S.  Monroe,  under  the  firm  name  of  Monroe  &  McShane, 
which  partnership  continued  for  several  years. 

During  the  last  few  years  he  has  been  practicing  law  alone, 
and  enjoys  a  large  and  lucrative  practice.  He  has  always  "been 
engaged  in  the  general  practice,  and  has  taken  a  leading  part  in 
many  important  cases  in  the  State  and  Federal  Courts. 

Mr.  McShane  is  six  feet  two  inches  in  height,  has  a  fine  presence, 
is  a  forcible  and  eloquent  speaker,  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
best  trial  lawyers  in  the  city  of  Chicago.  He  is  a  leading  Dem- 
ocrat, and  has  frequently  been  urged  as  attorney  general  and  for 
Congress.  In  1893,  the  year  of  the  World's  Fair,  he  was  a  candi- 
date for  city  attorney  on  the  Citizens'  ticket,  which  was  made  up  of 
two  Democrats  and  two  Republicans,  and  which  was  headed  by 
Samuel  W.  Allerton,  and  opposed  the  ticket  headed  by  Carter 
H.  Harrison. 

Mr.  McShane  is  a  member  of  the  Columbus  and  Sheridan  Clubs, 
and  a  number  of  other  social  and  fraternal  organizations.  He 
has  a  clean  record,  and  a  brilliant  and  successful  career  before 
him. 


PHILIP  MCGREGOR  ROGERS. 

Philip  McGregor  Rogers,  whose  name  is  familiar  to  and  his 
memory  held  in  honorable  respect  by  all  old  time  Chicagoans,  was 
one  of  this  city's  pioneer  citizens,  having  settled  here  in  1828  and 
built  a  log  house  where  the  establishment  of  Marshall  Field  on 
State  Street  now  stands.  His  parents,  James  and  Elizabeth 


96  BIOGRAPHICAL,    HISTORY    OF    THE 

(Ward)  Rogers,  were  both  thrifty  Scotch  people,  the  mother  being 
one  of  the  noted  McGregors,  and  they  had  left  their  own  country 
and  moved  to  Dublin  that  their  children  might  receive  better 
school  advantages  than  were  possible  in  the  highlands. 

Philip  McGregor  Rogers  attended  school  in  Dublin  for  a  short 
time  only,  when  the  whole  family  moved  to  America  and  settled 
at  Redwood,  Jefferson  County,  N.  Y.  Here  the  brother  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  who  was  a  priest  and  a  man  of  high  education, 
took  Philip  in  hand  and  acting  as  his  tutor  gave  him  a  thorough 
course.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  visited  New  York  City  and  went 
through  a  course  of  land  surveying,  later  traveling  through  the 
State  and  by  working  at  his  profession,  earning  some  money. 

Tn  1828,  when  the  Erie  Canal  was  in  course  of  construction,  his 
brother,  himself,  and  two  companions,  formed  a  partnership  and 
started  for  the  West,  stopping  for  a  short  time,  however,  on  the 
way  to  do  some  contract  work  on  the  canal.  Arrived  at  Chicago, 
then  nothing  but  a  frontier  trading  post,  he  and  his  three  com- 
panions— his  brother,  after  unsuccessfully  endeavoring  to  induce 
Philip  to  accompany  him,  had  gone  further  west — built  a  log  cabin 
and  opened  a.  small  store,  where  they  remained  during  that  winter. 
In  the  spring  an  inventory  of  his  personal  resources  was  taken  by 
Mr.  Rogers  and  he  discovered  himself  to  be  the  possessor  of  a  cash 
balance  of  but  thirty  cents.  This  he  decided  to  invest  in  a  broad- 
brimmed  straw  hat,  a  shovel,  and  a  ditching  line,  and  so  economic- 
ally equipped,  secured  a  job  as  a  ditcher.  Having  followed  this 
employment  for  a  time,  his  business  instinct  informed  him  that 
Fort  Dearborn  was  located  on  the  site  where  a  large  city  was  sure 
to  be  founded  in  the  near  future.  On  hunting  expeditions  in  the 
immediate  neighborhood,  he  had  taken  particular  notice  of  the 
country  north  of  Fort  Dearborn,  and  his  mind  was  quickly  made 
up  to  buy  land  there  from  the  government  as  soon  as  he  was  in  a 
position  so  to  do. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  97 

At  that  time  charcoal  was  in  great  demand  and  commanded  a 
high  price.  He  had  seen  the  article  made  in  New  York  State  and 
as  the  land  he  had  so  thoroughly  canvassed  was  covered  with  tim- 
ber suitable  for  the  purpose,  he  induced  his  companion  to  .go  in 
with  him,  and  having  built  a  cabin  in  the  woods  they  manufactured 
charcoal.  Their  venture  proved  highly  remunerative  and  all^  the 
money  made  was  put  by  Mr.  Rogers  into  land,  which  he  was  then 
able  to  purchase  from  the  government  at  a  very  low  price.  The 
land  where  Niles,  Rogers  Park,  and  a  portion  of  what  is  now 
Ravenswood,  showed  such  great  fertility  of  soil  that  after  the  tim- 
ber was  removed  Mr.  Rogers  at  once  began  to  cultivate,  and  for 
that  reason  induced  a  great  many  Germans  to  there  locate.  Farm- 
ing was  begun  on  a  very  extensive  scale,  having  at  one  time  as 
many  as  three  hundred  German  laborers  working  for  him  under 
a  foreman.  Being  himself  a  good  German  scholar,  Mr.  Rogers 
was  at  once  their  doctor,  lawyer,  and  judge,  and  later  bought  land 
for  them  and  assisted  them  in  every  way  possible  to  bring  their 
families  from  the  old  country  and  settle  around  Niles,  where  to- 
day they  and  their  descendants  make  a  prosperous  and  happy 
colony. 

The  domestic  relations  of  Mr.  Rogers  were  of  the  happiest 
character.  Re  married  Miss  Mary  Ward  Masterson,  a  native  of 
County  Wexford,  Ireland,  but  who  came  of  a  good  English  family. 
She  owned  a  considerable  tract  of  land  and  on  which  Buena  Park 
and  a  portion  of  Ravenswood  are  now  located.  Mr.  Rogers,  in  the 
very  prime  of  his  life,  died  suddenly  of  congestion  of  the  brain  in 
1857,  and  just  at  a  time  when  his  many  enterprises  were  beginning 
to  prove  very  profitable. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rogers  had  two  children — Philip,  who  graduated 
from  the  Northwestern  University  and  was  taking  a  law  course 
when  his  father  died;  and  a  daughter,  Catherine,  who  married 
Patrick  Leonard  Touhy — of  whom  a  sketch  appeal's  elsewhere  in 


98  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

this  volume.  Mrs.  Rogers,  who  was  a  woman  of  extremely  chari- 
table views,  built  in  1876  a  Roman  Catholic  Church — St.  Cath- 
erine's— at  Rogers  Park,  and  presented  it  to  the  parish.  She  died 
in  1890,  respected,  honored  and  universally  regretted. 

Philip  McGregor  Rogers  was  a  man  of  undeniable  abilities  and 
which  he  exercised  in  many  directions.  His  business  sagacity,  his 
foresight  and  understanding  of  future  possibilities  were  great,  and 
gave  him  the  possession  of  a  large  fortune,  which  was  used  by  him 
to  good  and  noble  purpose.  He  might  have  been  prominent  in  any 
path  he  desired,  but  he  preferred  to  found  a  settlement  which 
should  lastingly  bear  witness  to  a  great  representative  Irishman. 


HON.  JOSEPH  A.  O'DONNELL. 


Talented  and  most  capable,  strong  in  his  resources  and  firm  in 
his  character,  faithful  to  every  detail  of  whatever  work  may  be 
undertaken,  a  faithful  and  true  friend,  a  patriotic  Irishman,  and  a 
credit  at  once  to  his  race  and  to  his  country,  to  his  adopted  laud 
"and  to  the  profession  in  which  he  holds  so  high  a  place,  Joseph  A. 
O'Donnell,  honest  and  true  representative,  needs  no  introduction  to 
his  fellow  countrj-men  in  the  West. 

Joseph  A.  O'Donnell  was  born  in  the  town  of  Ballina,  County 
Mayo,  Ireland,  December  23rd,  1859,  and  when  seven  years  of  age 
came  with  his  parents,  Patrick  and  Catherine  (Nellis)  O'Donnell,  to 
this  city,  the  Mecca  for  all  who  are  wistful  of  bettering  their  con- 
ditions in  life.  He  belongs  to  that  historic  O'Donnell  family  that 
was  offered  a  choice  between  Hell  and  Connaught. 

So  soon  as  the  boy  was  sufficiently  old,  he  was  sent  by  his  parents 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  101 

to  St.  Patrick's  Academy  in  Chicago,  from  which  having  gradu- 
ated, he  also  for  some  time  attended  the  public  schools.  On  leav- 
ing school,  Joseph  A.  O'Donnell,  who  had  evinced  a  most  studious 
disposition,  was  obliged  to  find  some  employment,  his  parents  need- 
ing every  possible  assistance  in  the  support  of  the  family,  and  was 
for  a  short  period  engaged  as  an  office  boy,  later,  however,  becom- 
ing apprenticed  as  a  mechanical  engineer  and  making  such  re- 
markable progress  that  in  a  few  years,  and  when  only  twenty-two, 
he  was  given  the  appointment  of  foreman.  Throughout  this  time 
every  opportunity  was  being  used  to  increase  his  knowledge  and 
more  thoroughly  master  the  higher  branches  of  his  business,  for 
which  purpose  he  attended  a  night  school  afterthe  labors  of  the  day 
were  over,  and  there  studying  mechanical  drawing,  engineering 
andotherkindredsubjects.  Afterall  his  striving,  however,  to  excel, 
he  found  the  hard  nature  of  his  work  was  breaking  up  his  constitu- 
tion, and  his  active  and  energetic  mind,  after  a  careful  overlooking 
of  the  position,  decided  the  legal  profession  offered  him  the  better 
chances,  and  every  energy  was  at  once  turned  to  acquiring  the 
necessary  knowledge.  While  employed  at  his  trade,  he  had  read 
"Blackstone's  Commentaries"  on  English  law  and  "Kent's  Commen- 
taries" on  American  law,  and  also,  and  this,  it  must  be  remem- 
bered, during  the  few  spare  hours  morning  and  evening,  had 
studied  Latin.  Strong  in  his  resolution,  when  by  his  industrious 
habits  and  the  truest  thrift  he  had  succeeded  in  saving  the  sum  of 
three  hundred  dollars,  he  decided  to  give  all  his  time  and  attention 
to  his  new  studies,  and,  bidding  farewell  to  the  machinist  business, 
he  became  a  law  student  at  the  Union  Law  College  of  Chicago, 
graduating  therefrom  in  1887  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  and  a  senior 
diploma.  He  also  took  a  post  graduate  course,  receiving  the  de- 
gree of  LL.  M.,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  received  his  license  to 
practice. 

This  initial  period  in  the  active  life  of  a  young  lawyer  is  often- 


102  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

times  the  occasion  of  most  fateful  effects  on  the  whole  after  career. 
It  is  the  first  case  that  is  always  not  merely  the  most  difficult  to 
obtain,  but  also  in  every  way  the  hardest  to  handle.  Many,  want- 
ing in  tenacity  of  purpose  at  this  time,  becoming  despondent  as  to 
the  future,  drop  out  altogether  of  the  profession  and  forcibly  illus- 
trate the  doctrine  that  it  is  those  best  fitted  who  survive.  Mr. 
O'Donnell's  fortune  was  of  a  happier  description.  No  sooner  was 
he  admitted  than  he  commenced  to  practice;  business  came  to  him, 
was  handled  carefully  and  thoroughly,  and  with  such  good  success 
that  to-day  he  has  absolutely  all  the  work  it  would  be  possible  for 
him  to  manage.  If,  too,  rumor  speak  the  truth,  higher  honors  are 
likely  to  be  his  in  the  near  future,  for  it  is  stated  as  within  the  pos- 
sibilities that  a  place  on  the  bench  of  the  court  where  he  is  now 
practicing  may  be  tendered  to  him. 

Whether  in  his  political  or  in  his  professional  career  it  may  be 
that  Mr.  O'Donnell  has  achieved  the  higher  honors,  it  would  be  a 
difficult  matter  to  determine.  A  Jeffersonian  Democrat  in  his  con- 
victions, for  three  consecutive  terms — those  of  1889,  1891  and  1893 
—Mr.  O'Donnell  has  been  elected  to  the  General  Assembly  of  Illi- 
nois from  the  Ninth  District  of  Cook  County,  and  he  was  also  in  at- 
tendance at  the  special  session  called  to  consider  the  World's  Fair 
bill,  and  is,  moreover,  one  of  the  faithful  "101"  to  whose  fidelity  and 
absolute  determination  the  election  of  Senator  Palmer  was  chiefly 
due.  For  a  considerable  time  he  has  been  one  of  the  acknowledged 
leaders  of  his  party  in  the  house,  as  was  evinced  by  his  place  on  the 
steering  committee  during  the  last  two  sessions.  The  choice  at- 
tests in  what  high  estimation  his  great  abilities  and  his  shrewd, 
intelligent  manner  of  conducting  what  may  be  called  the  routine 
business  part  of  legislation  are  held  by  his  party  colleagues,  who 
know  they  will  at  all  times  find  in  him  a  sage  and  conservative  ad- 
viser. His  career  has  been  far  longer  than  the  ordinary,  and  dur- 
ing the  time  it  has  been  his  province  to  put  forward  a  number  of 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  i03 

important  bills,  of  which,  all  sent  by  him  to  the  desk  have  either 
been  passed  or  it  was  intended  so  to  do,  and  the  great  Democratic 
party  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  owes  much  of  its  success  of  later 
years  to  the  passage  of  the  Australian  Ballot  Law,  which  not  only 
was  introduced  by  Mr.  O'Donnell,  but  was  by  him  engineered 
through  the  house  and  finally  passed.  Of  Mr.  O'Donnell  as  a 
speaker,  some  few  words  are  necessary.  While  he  at  no  time  soars 
into  high  rhetorical  efforts,  as  an  orator  he  possessed  few  equals  in 
the  house.  Both  forcible,  earnest  and  distinct,  his  absolute  sin- 
cerity of  purpose  compels  what  others  may  obtain  by  the  richness 
of  their  vocabulary  or  by  some  wild  bursts  of  fancy. 

Mr.  O'Donnell  was  married  in  1886  to  Hose  E.,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Dugan,  one  of  Chicago's  oldest  citizens,  for  he  had  come  to 
this  city  as  far  back  as  1833. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  firm  believer  in  the  good  purpose 
and  sound  work  done  by  the  various  fraternal  organizations,  and 
in  addition  to  all  the  distinctly  Irish  societies,  is  a  member  of  the 
Koyal  League,  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  the  Na- 
tional Union  and  the  Knights  of  Maccabees.  Five  years  also  was 
spent  by  him  in  the  Second  Kegiment  State  Militia  of  Illinois,  in 
which  he  held  the  position  of  First  Lieutenant. 

In  i  894  he  made  a  tour  through  Ireland,  England  and  Scotland, 
greatly  enjoying  a  visit  to  the  home  spots  endeared  to  him  by  family 
and  historic  associations.  In  his  religious  views  he  is  a  lioman 
Catholic,  faithful  to  his  creed  and  observant  of  all  its  duties.  He 
possesses  a  fund  of  interesting  information,  draining  on  the  rich 
stores  of  a  mind  that  has  always  found  its  chiefest  delight  in 
reading. 

Tall  of  stature  and  erect  in  carriage,  as  the  years  go  by  he  is 
inclining  to  become  stout.  In  his  manner  courteous,  kindly  and  at 
all  times  the  most  sociable  of  men,  there  is  yet  about  him  a  quiet 
firmness  and  determination  of  character,  advising  plainly  that  he 


104  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

would  prove  a  dangerous  customer  if  trifled  with.  The  good  work 
done  by  him  in  raising  himself  to  an  enviable  position  in  the 
learned  profession  of  the  law,  as  well  as  to  a  place  in  the  General 
Assembly,  as  a  Democratic  member  of  the  General  Assembly,  gives 
useful  lesson  of  the  benefits  enjoyed  by  us  all  under  the  free  Demo- 
cratic institutions  of  the  United  States.  He  demonstrates  well  that 
to  the  man  of  bright  and  energetic  faculties,  possibilities  quickly 
become  probabilities  and  probabilities  are  made  certainties,  and 
that  the  very  highest  station  is  open  to  whosoever  is  willing  to 
faithfully  strive  and  who  possesses  full  and  firm  determination  to 
let  no  difficulties  deter,  but  to  fight  on  and  conquer. 


JOHN  J.  PHILBIN,  JR. 


John  J.  Philbin,  Jr.,  although  still  a  young  man,  may  be  classed 
among  the  "Old  Citizens"  of  Chicago,  for  he  has  lived  here  all  his 
life  and  has  witnessed  the  development  of  this  great  city  of  the 
West  in  all  the  stages  of  its  wonderful  career. 

Born  January  15th,  1862,  within  a  stone's  throw  of  the  place 
where  he  is  now  engaged  in  business,  Mr.  Philbin  has  watched  the 
growth  of  the  Garden  City  with  pardonable  pride,  and  in  every 
way  in  his  power  has  contributed  to  the  furthering  of  its  advance- 
ment and  prosperity.  His  parents,  John  and  Catharine  (O'Dowd) 
Philbin,  came  from  Ireland  fifty-five  years  ago — his  father  from 
County  Mayo,  and  his  mother  from  Ballina — settling  first  in  New 
York  State,  where  they  engaged  in  farming  and  thence  moving  to 
Chicago  five  years  later.  John  Philbin,  Sr.,  and  Phil  Conley  were 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  10§ 

the  first  two  Irishmen  to  settle  in  Chicago,  and  now,  at  the  ripe 
and  honored  age  of  seventy-nine,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  passing  the  closing  years  of  a  long  and  useful  life.  In 
Irish  affairs  he  has  always  taken  a  great  interest  and  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Father  Mathew  Temperance  Society. 

John  J.  Philbin,  Jr.,  received  his  education  at  the  Jesuit  Broth- 
ers' School  on  Morgan  Street,  and  at  the  Polytechnic  Institute, 
corner  Washington  and  La  Salle  Streets,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated. His  first  work  was  for  the  city  at  the  age  of  seventeen  in 
the  capacity  of  messenger,  and  through  different  positions  he 
worked  his  way  until  after  eight  years  of  service  he  had  become 
chief  clerk  in  the  Street  Department,  being  appointed  thereto  by 
Mayor  Harrison,  and  remaining  in  that  capacity  through  the  ad- 
ministrations of  Mayors  Harrison,  Cregier  and  Washburne.  lie  re- 
tired in  1890.  After  leaving  the  employ  of  the  city,  he  went  into 
the  general  contracting  and  decorating  business,  doing  much  of  the 
fine  decorating  work  that  can  be  admired  in  the  city  and  county 
buildings. 

Mr.  Philbin,  Jr.,  married  April  27th,  1892,  Miss  Alice  Mackin, 
daughter  of  that  well  known  pioneer  and  millionaire  Irishman, 
Thomas  Mackin.  They  have  two  daughters,  Alice  Mackiu  Philbin 
and  Mildred.  Mr.  Mackin  died  a  short  time  ago,  leaving  a  large 
estate,  and  Mr.  Philbin  manages  his  wife's  share  of  the  property 
and  conducts  the  Revere  House  on  the  north  side,  which  was  a 
portion  of  the  estate.  Of  this  he  took  charge  in  1893,  and  by  care- 
ful management  and  attention  to  the  comfort  of  his  guests  has 
gained  a  reputation  for  the  Revere  House  as  a  "home"  which  must 
be  eminently  satisfying. 

As  a  young  man  he  was  a  musician  of  note,  playing  with  many 
of  the  leading  orchestras  of  the  country.  He  is  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Columbus  Club,  Cook  County  Marching  Club,  and  the 
County  Democracy.  In  politics  he  has  always  taken  a  great  inter- 


106  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

est  and  has  been  one  of  the  leaders  of  his  ward,  at  one  time  being 
candidate  for  the  office  of  clerk  of  the  Probate  Court. 

Mr.  Philbin  is  in  religion  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  a  valued  mem- 
ber of  the  parish  of  Our  Lady  of  Mt.  Carmel,  in  the  interest  of 
which  he  is  an  active  and  conscientious  worker. 

Of  his  ability  as  a  business  man,  the  great  success  the  Revere 
House  has  attained  while  under  his  management  is  the  best  proof. 
Among  Chicago's  most  progressive  citizens  he  has  found  a  place 
and  indeed  well  deserves  the  golden  opinions  he  has  gained  in  all 
the  social  and  commercial  circles  of  the  city. 


WILLIAM  HENRY  ARTHUR. 


William  Henry  Arthur,  present  assistant  corporation  counsel, 
though  not  yet  thirty  years  of  age,  has  already  attained  a  high 
standing  in  the  legal  fraternity  and  is  especially  prominent  and  a 
recognized  authority  in  all  matters  affecting  cycling.  He  was 
born  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  December  27th,  1868,  his  father,  Harry 
Arthur,  being  an  officer  in  the  British  army,  who  had  served  in 
the  Crimean  war  and  other  important  engagements,  receiving  sev- 
eral medals  for  distinguished  service.  After  retiring  on  his  half 
pay,  being  quite  an  expert  as  a  musician,  he  became  a  leader  of  the 
finest  military  band  in  Dublin,  and  also  had  a  school  of  instruction 
for  military  bands.  He  died  in  1872,  when  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  not  quite  four  years  old.  His  widow,  a  native  of 
Queens  County,  felt  the  loss  of  her  husband  so  acutely  that  she 
followed  him  in  the  following  year  (1873). 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  109 

The  subject  of  this  record  was  nine  years  old  when  he  came  to 
Chicago  to  the  care  of  an  aunt  who  was  living  in  the  city.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  and  high  schools  of  Chicago,  and  on 
leaving  school  became  clerk  in  a  fire  insurance  office,  while  at  the 
same  time  attending  the  department  of  law  in  the  Lake  Forest 
University.  He  graduated  in  May,  1893,  as  one  of  the  three  honor 
men  of  his  class,  and  then  took  a  post  graduate  course  under 
Thomas  A.  Moran,  a  tutor  of  whom  he  always  speaks  with  affec- 
tionate esteem  and  the  highest  regard.  In  the  same  year — 1893— 
he  was  appointed  librarian  of  the  Ashland  block  law  library,  where 
he  had  good  opportunity  for  study,  and  also  became  acquainted 
with  many  lawyers,  whom,  in  various  ways,  he  was  able  to  assist. 
While  holding  this  position,  in  the  fall  of  1893  he  started  a  law 
office  for  himself,  and  had  his  first  case  before  the  close  of  the 
same  year.  Appointed  attorney  for  several  fire  insurance  compa- 
nies, a  line  of  business  in  which  he  was  well  versed,  in  1894  he 
was  appointed  attorney  for  the  Illinois  Division  of  League  of 
American  Wheelmen,  and  has  filled  that  position  ever  since.  The 
1st  of  October,  1895,  he  received  the  appointment  of  assistant  cor- 
poration counsel  and  has  already  handled  some  quite  important 
cases.  In  the  spring  of  1897  Mr.  Arthur  was  very  prominently 
mentioned  as  a  candidate  for  city  attorney.  Of  his  abilities  and 
fitness  for  the  position  the  press  generally  spoke  very  highly,  but 
as  is  well  known,  what  was  termed  the  machine  controlled  the 
convention  and  Roy  O.  West  was  nominated  for  that  position  to 
succeed  himself. 

Mr.  Arthur  is  vice  consul  of  the  Illinois  Division  of  the  League 
of  American  Wheelmen  and  is  president  of  the  Illinois  Cycling 
Club,  which  is  the  largest  cycling  club  in  the  world,  having  more 
than  six  hundred  members  and  a  club  house  which  cost  forty 
thousand  dollars.  He  was  lieutenant  of  the  First  Division,  First 
Battalion  of  the  Naval  Reserve  until  quite  recently,  when  from 


110  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

lack  of  time  to  attend  rightly  he  resigned.  He  is  a  member  of 
Union  Park  Lodge  No.  610,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  of  Washington  Chapter 
No.  43,  E.  A.  M.;  and  of  Fort  Dearborn  Council  No.  278,  Royal 
Arcanum.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Central  Council  No.  1,  North 
American  Union,  an  association  originated  by  well  known  Irish- 
men; and  of  Chicago  Council  of  the  Home  Circle.  Mr.  Arthur 
has  always  been  a  Republican  in  politics  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Lincoln  Club.  As  to  his  religious  views,  he  was  brought  up  a 
Protestant  Episcopalian.  He  was  married  in  October,  1890,  to 
Miss  Sophie  Boiler  of  Chicago. 

This  brief  sketch  is  sufficient  to  show  that  Mr.  Arthur  has 
gained  quite  an  enviable  record  in  his  profession,  phenomenally 
so  for  one  so  young,  while  at  the  same  time  he  has  achieved  con- 
siderable renown  in  cycling  and  athletics.  In  the  latter,  especially 
in  running,  his  time  of  4:36  for  a  mile  made  in  1889  was  the  best 
Western  record  for  that  year,  and  he  holds  some  sixty  to  seventy 
medals  for  various  contests.  His  fondness  in  that  direction,  how- 
ever, has  never  been  permitted  to  interfere  with  his  reading  or  his 
studies,  and  the  midnight  oil  is  often  burned  in  the  fine  library 
of  his  residence. 


MICHAEL  J.  KEANE. 


In  the  list  of  Chicago's  most  honored  citizens,  among  those 
whose  efforts  unaided  by  fortune  or  the  influence  of  friends  have 
procured  universal  respect  and  a  comfortable  income,  the  name 
of  Mr.  Keane  stands  high. 

He  was  born  in  Ireland,  Kilkee,  County  Clare,  September  29, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  Ill 

1849,  and  as  an  infant  of  three  weeks,  left  the  old  country.  lie  is 
the  son  of  a  patriotic  sire;  his  father,  Simon  Keane,  was  forced  to 
leave  Ireland  without  an  hour's  delay  after  the  famous  uprising  of 
'48.  He  arrived  in  Chicago,  1855,  and  began  dealing  in  grain  on 
the  Board  of  Trade.  Successful  in  his  business,  he  retired  from 
active  work  in  1871,  dying  in  1882,  at  the  age  of  sixty.  Mary 
Keane,  his  wife,  lives,  and  is  now  over  seventy.  The  son  immedi- 
ately assumed  full  charge  of  his  mother  and  the  family,  and  still 
continues  to  support. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  completed  his  studies  at  the  University  of  St.  Mary  of  the 
Lake,  Chicago.  Believing  that  a  business  career  offered  higher 
advantages  than  a  professional  one,  he  took  up  the  trade  of  a  ma- 
chinist, subsequently  changing  to  the  furniture  trade.  His  appli- 
cation to  the  business  he  had  chosen,  and  the  reputation  he  has 
obtained,  needs  no  higher  testimonial  than  the  fact  that  in  twenty- 
two  years  the  only  change  he  has  made  is  from  the  Chicago  Carpet 
Company  to  the  Tobey  Furniture  Company. 

He  has  actively  supported  the  Democratic  party,  to  which  he 
had  attached  himself  since  he  reached  his  manhood.  In  1893  he 
was  made  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  to  fill  a  vacancy, 
and  on  the  expiration  of  the  term  was  given  a  reappointment  for 
three  years  by  the  late  Carter  H.  Harrison. 

Mr.  Keane  has  always  taken  great  interest  in  all  matters  apper- 
taining to  the  Irish  people  at  home  or  abroad.  Fie  has  devoted  his 
best  efforts,  and  will  continue  so  to  do,  to  the  realization  of  the 
true  Irishman's  fondest  hope,  that  in  our  day,  and  in  the  very 
near  future,  we  may  see  Ireland  free  and  happy  and  the  old  flag 
Hying  over  the  Irish  parliament  house  in  College  Green. 

Michael  J.  Keane,  who  is  a  bachelor,  is  a  member  of  several 
clubs  as  well  as  various  benevolent  and  friendly  orders.  He  joined 
the  Waukausee  Club  in  1892  and  was  a  director  in  1895.  He  is 


112  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

a  member  of  the  Columbus  Club  since  1893.  lu  the  Catholic  Benev- 
olent Legion  he  has  filled  all  offices  from  Orator  to  State  Presi- 
dent, and  he  also  belongs  to  the  Fraternal  Insurance  Benevolent 
Society,  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  the  Columbus  Mutual  Benefit  So- 
ciety, tie  is  also  an  honorary  member  of  the  Seventh  Regiment 
Illinois  National  Guards. 


HON.  JOHN  PATRICK  McGOORTY. 


John  Patrick  McGoorty  was  born  August  25th,  1866,  at  Con- 
neaut,  Ashtabula  County,  Ohio,  and  is  the  son  of  Peter  and  Mary 
(Gaffney)  McGoorty,  both  natives  of  Connaught,  his  father  being 
from  Leitrim  and  his  mother  from  Roscommon.  They  were  married 
in  the  old  country  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1864,  settling 
in  Ohio.  In  1870  the  family  removed  to  Berlin,  Wis.,  where  for 
twenty-five  years  Peter  McGoorty  has  been  a  traveling  salesman. 

John  Patrick  McGoorty  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Berlin,  and  in  1884,  owing  to  failing  health,  after  completing  the 
high  school  course,  he  moved  to  Colorado  and  took  up  his  residence 
in  Denver,  and  later  at  Trinidad  until  the  fall  of  1885.  His  health 
restored,  he  returned  to  Berlin,  accepting  there  a  position  with 
Still  man,  Wright  &  Co.,  as  a  traveler  for  their  flour.  Very  consid- 
erable success  attended  his  efforts  during  the  five  years  he  re- 
mained with  the  firm,  and  during  which  period  he  visited  the 
principal  jobbing  centers  from  Boston  to  San  Francisco. 

Mr.  McGoorty  having  decided  in  1890  to  take  up  the  legal  pro- 
fession, entered  the  law  department  of  the  Lake  Forest  University 
where  in  1893  he  had  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Bachelor 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  113 

of  Law.  The  active  practice  of  his  profession  was  immediately 
beguu  and  by  faithful  and  close  attention  to  every  case  entrusted 
to  him,  he  soon  made  himself  known  and  with  the  result  that  he 
was  quickly  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  very  remunerative  general 
practice.  Perhaps  the  leading  incident  of  his  professional  career 
and  which  has  most  greatly  tended  to  his  good  success  was  his 
connection  with  the  celebrated  Prendergast  case,  in  which  he  was 
one  of  the  counsel  for  the  defense.  His  work  in  that  case  received 
much  favorable  notice  at  the  hands  of  the  press  and  his  speech  to 
the  jury  at  the  close  of  that  trial  elicited  many  flattering  encomi- 
ums from  his  professional  brethren. 

From  his  boyhood  his  tastes  were  of  a  literary  character  and 
though  out  door  sports  of  every  description  were  not  neglected, 
he  was  at  all  times  an  omnivorous  reader.  As  a  man,  his  reading 
has  not  been  neglected,  and  there  is  no  young  lawyer  in  the  city 
who  keeps  himself  more  thoroughly  abreast  with  the  times  by 
reading  not  only  subjects  appertaining  to  his  own  profession  but 
also  all  other  timely  matters. 

A  natural  born  orator,  he  was  solicited  in  1893,  during  the 
World's  Fair,  to  read  before  the  Catholic  Congress  the  paper,  "The 
World's  Fair  and  Its  Lessons  to  Catholics."  This  was  a  decided 
compliment,  as  it  had  been  strongly  suggested  that  another  choice 
be  made,  and  only  at  the  last  moment  did  some  one  offer  the 
remark  that  there  was  no  occasion  to  invite  an  outsider,  as  Chi- 
cago had  already  a  citizen  perfectly  able  to  do  the  paper  and  its 
delivery  full  justice. 

Mr.  McGoorty  was  married,  November  29th,  1893,  to  Mary  Wig- 
gins, a  Chicago  lady  of  exceptional  accomplishments. 

His  interest  in  Irish  affairs  has  alwa3rs  been  of  a  very  pro- 
nounced character  and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
Hibernians  and  a  number  of  other  Irish  societies.  lie  is  also  Pres- 
ident of  the  Washington  Council  of  the  Irish  Alliance. 


114  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

A  Democrat  from  conviction,  in  the  political  world  also  he  has 
made  his  strong  personality  and  the  excellence  of  his  gifts  power- 
fully felt.  In  1895  he  was  nominated  against  Alderman  O'Neil  of 
the  34th  Ward,  and  though  unsuccessful,  he  made  a  noteworthy 
fight,  running  nearly  one  thousand  votes  ahead  of  his  ticket.  This 
year  he  has  been  further  honored  with  his  party's  nomination  in 
the  Third  Senatorial  District  for  Representative  to  the  Legisla- 
ture. 

While  still  a  young  man,  Mr.  McGoorty  has  succeeded  in  mak- 
ing himself  so  high  a  reputation  that  if  the  promise  of  his  career 
be  fulfilled,  the  future  should  number  among  its  proudest  and 
most  gifted  representatives  of  Irish  descent  the  name  of  John 
Patrick  McGoorty. 


MICHAEL  VALENTINE  GANNON. 


A  thorough  lawyer,  an  eloquent  speaker,  a  fervent  patriot,  a 
true  hearted  Irishman  and  a  faithful  devoted  American,  are  terms 
that  can  be  applied  to  no  Chicagoan  more  fitly  than  to  the  subject 
of  this  sketch. 

Michael  V.  Gannon  was  born  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  February  14th, 
1840.  His  father,  Michael  Gannon,  died  when  he  was  only  three 
months  old,  leaving  a  widow  and  three  children,  of  whom  he  was 
the  youngest.  He  lost  his  only  sister  in  infancy,  and  his  brother 
John  rests  in  the  old  land,  where  he  died  in  1872.  His  mother  was 
formerly  Catharine  O'Brien,  and  is  one  of  the  family  of  the  Mc- 
Geoghegans  of  West  Meath,  and  the  O'Briens  of  Limerick.  His 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  117 

father's  family  had  long  been  settled  in  West  Meath  near  Kilbeg- 
gan.  For  all  the  talent  he  possesses,  all  the  good  in  his  character, 
Michael  V.  Gannon  feels  indebted  to  the  mother,  whose  earnest- 
ness, untiringness,  true  religious  spirit  and  thorough  patriotism 
were  to  the  son  the  highest  inspiration,  and  have  made  him  what 
he  is  to-day. 

Mr.  Gannon  found  his  earlier  education  in  the  Irish  National 
School  in  Kilbeggan  County,  West  Meath.  In  addition  to  all  the 
ordinary  studies,  he  was,  as  a  boy,  intensely  interested  in  histori- 
cal and  biographical  subjects,  as  well  as  travels  and  romances,  in 
fact,  devouring  every  book  of  the  kind  he  could  find.  Yet  his 
studious  disposition  did  not  incapacitate  him  from  a  delight  in  all 
out-door  sports,  and  he  also  took  peculiar  pleasure  in  amateur 
theatricals  and  in  public  reading. 

When  seventeen,  in  March,  1863,  he  joined  the  Dublin  Metro- 
politan police  in  order  to  be  with  his  brother,  who  had  enlisted 
four  years  previously.  He  quickly  discovered  for  what  purposes 
that  body  was  likely  to  be  used,  and  took  an  early  opportunity  to 
resign.  On  October  18th,  1866,  he  emigrated  to  America,  and 
quickly  found  employment  teaching  school,  first  in  Rock  Island, 
111.,  and  then  at  Davenport,  Iowa.  Having  decided  to  study  law, 
he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1873. 

A  Democrat  by  conviction,  he  is  in  politics  no  partisan.  In 
1877  he  was  elected  to  the  Davenport  City  Council.  The  following 
year  he  received  the  nomination  for  district  attorney,  but  was 
defeated;  however,  on  again  being  nominated  in  1882,  he  was 
elected.  Honored  with  the  Democratic  nomination  for  attorney 
general  in  1884,  he  was  successful  in  the  election.  In  1887  he 
moved  to  Omaha,  Nebraska,  and  in  1891  was  elected  president  of 
the  National  Land  League.  He  came  to  Chicago  in  1893  and  his 
high  reputation,  great  abilities,  and  charm  of  manner  have  made 
for  him  multitudinous  friends. 


118  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

Michael  V.  Gannoii  has  been  three  times  married,  and  has  seven 
children  now  living.  His  present  wife,  formerly  Mary  Johnson, 
is  a  daughter  of  one  of  his  companions  in  his  journey  from  the  old 
country  to  the  great  land  of  the  free. 


LAWRENCE  P.  BOYLE. 


To  lead  in  the  profession  chosen  for  the  life  work  is  the  laud- 
able ambition  of  every  man  of  ability  to  understand  what  worldly 
success  means,  and  it  is  the  closeness  with  which  such  desires  are 
realized  that  constitutes  prominence  and  greatness.  Beyond  all 
peradventure  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing, as  he  is  certainly  one  of  the  best  known  lawyers  of  this  great 
city. 

Lawrence  P.  Boyle  was  born  April  23d,  1854,  on  a  farm  in 
Himtington  County,  Indiana,  his  parents  being  Lawrence  and  Jane 
(Finerghty)  Boyle.  Lawrence  Boyle  was  a  native  of  Queens  Coun- 
ty, Ireland,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1835.  With  his  cousin, 
Michael  Malone,  a  wealthy  contractor  of  Lancaster,  Penn.,  he  en- 
gaged in  superintending  the  building  of  railroads.  In  1842,  on  a 
visit  to  a  brother,  he  went  west  to  Huntiugton  County,  Ind.,  in- 
tending to  return  to  Pennsylvania,  but  he  was  induced  to  alter 
his  mind  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Clear  Creek  Township,  then  a 
wilderness  in  that  county.  Three  years  later  he  was  married  at 
Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  to  Jane  Finerghty,  a  native  of  Roscommon, 
Ireland,  where  her  father  had  at  one  time  been  a  prosperous  farmer 
and  stock  raiser,  but  through  the  terrible  conditions  existing  in 
the  country,  was  subsequently  reduced  almost  to  poverty. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  119 

Mr.  Boyle  received  his  education  in  the  common  and  select 
schools  of  Huntington  and  Wabash  Counties,  Ind.,  supplemented 
by  considerable  home  studies.  From  childhood  to  early  manhood 
was  passed  by  him  on  the  farm,  attending  school  in  the  winter 
and  in  the  summer  assisting  in  the  farming,  in  this  way  becoming 
physically  strengthened  for  the  after  battle  of  life. 

His  schooling  over  he  was  given  a  license  to  teach,  and  in  the 
public  and  graded  schools  of  Huntington  County  he  taught  for 
some  time  to  earn  some  money,  in  the  first  place  to  assist  his 
father  to  pay  off  a  debt  on  the  farm  and  afterwards  to  obtain  suffi- 
cient to  live  on  while  reading  law  between  the  school  terms.  The 
occupation  was  also  in  other  ways  congenial,  and  it  afforded  him 
an  opportunity  of  reading  law  in  the  evenings  and  on  the  off  day 
of  each  week — Saturday. 

Industry  and  application  found  a  suitable  reward,  and  in  1879 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Indiana,  and 
taking  up  the  practice  of  law  in  his  native  town — Hunting-ton- 
ne continued  there  until  June  17th,  1884,  building  meanwhile  con- 
siderable clientage  and  winning  the  good  opinion  and  esteem  of 
the  bar  there  and  in  the  counties  surrounding.  In  1880  in  response 
to  the  wishes  of  the  citizens  of  Huntington  he  became  Mayor  of 
the  town,  being  re-elected  to  that  office  in  1882,  although  at  the 
time  he  was  the  youngest  Mayor  of  any  city  in  Indiana.  More  was 
done  by  him  to  bring  his  city  before  the  people  of  the  State  of  In- 
diana and  the  country  at  large  than  had  ever  been  before  for  that 
city,  and  he  was  also  largely  instrumental  in  securing  the  building 
of  the  Chicago  and  Erie  Itailronxl  through  Hunting-ton,  and  mainly 
through  his  efforts  and  shrewd  management  the  shops  of  that 
road  were  located  in  that  town,  having  ever  since  been  the  means 
of  distributing  from  a  quarter  to  half  a  million  dollars  per  month. 
On  June  17th,  1884,  a  total  stranger  without  a  friend  or  a,  relative 
within  the  city  or  State  of  Illinois,  he  removed  to  Chicago,  imme- 


120  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

diately  afterwards  opening  an  office  and  starting  into  the  practice 
of  law.  His  experience  under  those  circumstances  was  necessarily 
like  the  experience  of  others  who  have  come  to  Chicago  under  sim- 
ilar circumstances,  and  for  a  time  he  had  an  excellent  opportunity 
and  ample  time  for  study.  Soon,  however,  his  acquaintance  ex- 
tended and  his  practice  grew.  In  October,  1887,  without  solicita- 
tion on  his  part,  he  was  appointed  Master  in  Chancery  of  the 
Superior  Court  of  Cook  County,  and  reappointed  to  the  same  office 
by  the  same  court  in  December,  1889.  In  October,  1890,  owing  to 
the  pressure  of  business  and  his  inability  to  attend  to  it  all,  he 
found  it  necessary  to  resign  the  office  of  Master  in  Chancery. 
While  acting  as  Master  in  Chancery  he  passed  on  many  cases  of 
importance,  and  only  in  one  instance  were  his  decisions  reversed 
by  the  Supreme  or  higher  courts.  In  1890  he  was  appointed  Gen- 
eral Counselor  and  Attorney  for  the  Board  of  Election  Commis- 
sioners of  Cook  County,  and  reappointed  each  year  successively  un- 
til 1894,  when  this  position  also  he  resigned.  During  the  period 
which  Mr.  Boyle  acted  as  Counselor  and  Attorney  for  the  Board 
of  Election  Commissioners  many  questions  of  great  importance 
relating  to  the  administration  of  the  general  city  election  law 
and  the  Australian  ballot  law  were  submitted  to  him  by  the 
Board  for  an  opinion,  and  while  these  questions  often  involved 
considerations  of  partisan  advantage,  it  was  observed  and  may 
be  said  to  his  credit,  that  he  never  allowed  himself  to  be  swerved 
or  to  give  an  opinion  to  the  Board  for  their  guidance  which  he  did 
not  believe  to  be  the  law,  and  as  an  evidence  of  the  correctness 
of  his  opinions  they  were  always  sustained  when  appealed  from 
to  the  Supreme  or  other  courts.  In  fact  his  opinions  were  so  well 
considered  to  be  impartial  and  sound  interpretations  of  the  law 
that  he  has  been  for  some  time,  and  is  now,  regarded  as  an  au- 
thority on  the  laws  pertaining  to  elections.  Since  June  1st,  1895, 
he  has  given  attention  exclusively  to  his  private  law  practice,  and 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  121 

now  enjoys  a  large  practice  in  both  the  Chancery  and  Law  Courts. 
His  practice  has  not  been  confined  to  Chicago,  but  extends  through- 
out several  of  the  western -States,  among  which  are  Utah,  Idaho 
and  Colorado,  having  important  mining  litigations  in  the  courts 
of  these  States. 

In  regard  to  political  matters,  always  an  unswerving  and  un- 
changeable Democrat,  since  1893  Mr.  Boyle  has  not  taken  any 
active  part.  In  that  year  he,  at  the  solicitation  of  the  late  Carter 
H.  Harrison,  who  was  his  close  friend,  took  a  very  leading  part 
in  the  contest  which  secured  for  Mr.  Harrison  the  nomination  and 
election  for  Mayor.  It  is  of  common  knowledge  that  Mr.  Harrison 
appreciated  Mr.  Boyle's  efforts,  and  had  such  thorough  confidence 
in  his  professional  ability  that  he  could  have  had  any  office  in  the 
gift  of  the  Mayor.  He  declined  to  accept  any  recompense  of  that 
character,  declaring  that  he  helped  to  elect,  not  because  he  wanted 
reward  for  his  efforts,  but  because  he  admired  Mr.  Harrison  and 
knew  he  would  be  the  right  man  for  World's  Fair  Mayor. 

In  1892  the  nomination  for  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of 
Cook  County  was  tendered  to  him  by  the  leaders  of  the  Democratic 
party,  but  this  also  he  for  sufficient  reasons  refused.  In  1893, 
without  solicitation  on  his  part,  in  fact,  against  his  own  judg- 
ment, he  was  nominated  by  the  Democratic  party  for  Judge  of 
the  Circuit  Court  of  Cook  County,  and  although  he  ran  many  thou- 
sand votes  ahead,  he,  with  the  balance  of  his  ticket,  suffered  defeat. 

Mr.  Boyle  has  been  connected  with  a  number  of  public  enter- 
prises. In  1890  he  assisted  in  organizing  the  movement  for  the 
reform  of  the  election  laws  of  Illinois,  and  in  1891-92  took  part  in 
the  preparation  and  the  securing  the  passage  of  the  Australian 
ballot  law. 

He  was  married  June  12th,  1895,  to  Miss  Alice  Moore  of  Hunt- 
ington,  Ind.,  also  a  native  of  that  city  and  a  lineal  descendant  of 
Colonel  Daniel  McFarland  of  Revolutionary  fame.  Her  parents 


122  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OP    THE 

were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Huutington,  Ind.,  her  father_  being 
a  merchant  there  and  continuing  in  his  business  until  his  death 
in  1875,  and  her  mother,  a  woman  of  rare  refinement  and  educa- 
tion. Of  Mrs.  Boyle  a  few  words  are  not  out  of  place.  She  is  a 
graduate  of  Glendale  Female  College,  possesses  a  most  interest- 
ing and  entertaining  manner,  and  as  for  her  appearance  is  above 
the  medium  height,  with  a  graceful  figure,  attractive  face,  pleasing 
address,  a  lover  of  the  intellectual  side  of  life,  and  is  possessed  of 
unusual  gifts  as  an  artist,  many  beautiful  paintings  which  now 
adorn  their  home  being  the  work  of  her  hand.  She  is,  however, 
none  the  less  deeply  interested  in  the  practical  duties  and  obliga- 
tions of  home  life,  and  finds  much  pleasure  in  making  the  home  of 
herself  and  her  husband  attractive  to  themselves  and  hospitable 
to  their  friends. 

A  few  words  in  regard  to  Mr.  Boyle's  personal  appearance: 
More  than  six  feet  in  height,  broad  shouldered  and  erect  with  a 
well  poised  head  of  indisputable  intellectual  cast,  commanding  in 
appearance,  yet  always  kindly,  his  is  a  face  and  a  form  that  in  a 
crowd  would  at  once  command  attention.  Well  trained  faculties 
are  in  him  supported  and  accompanied  by  the  strength  of  youth 
and  health.  Of  him  it  may  indeed  be  truthfully  said,  that  he  is 
true  and  faithful  to  his  friends  and  never  loses  a  friendship  when 
once  formed,  while  as  for  his  enemies — for,  like  all  positive,  ag- 
gressive men,  he  has  many — he  is  oblivious  to  their  attacks,  treat- 
ing them  at  all  times  with  unfeigned  indifference. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  123 


DAVID  SULLIVAN. 


David  Sullivan  is  one  of  the  young  attorneys  of  Chicago,  who 
by  industry  and  perseverance  united  to  professional  skill  and  abil- 
ity has  obtained  a  high  position  in  his  profession  and  at  the  same 
time  gained  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  of  the  community  with 
whom  he  is  brought  into  contact. 

lie  was  born  in  the  Island  of  Valentia,  on  the  southwest  coast 
of  Kerry,  April  3,  1856.  His  parents  were  John  C.  and  Mary  Sulli- 
van. The  former  died  May  14th,  1884,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one 
years,  and  his  mother  in  February,  1891,  aged  eighty-two  years. 

His  first  education  was  obtained  in  Ireland,  but  on  his  arrival 
with  his  parents  in  the  United  States  in  1865,  he  took  a  common 
school  education  and  then  attended  the  high  school  at  Marquette, 
Michigan.  He  came  to  Chicago  March,  1871,  and  has  since  made 
this  city  his  permanent  residence.  While  quite  young  he  had  man- 
aged to  pick  up  some  knowledge  of  the  printing  business,  and  his 
schooling  over,  he  found  a  place  on  the  Chicago  Times,  first  at 
setting  type,  then  as  reporter,  and  afterwards  as  proof  reader.  He 
began  the  study  of  law  with  Judge  Crooker,  and  then  in  the  office 
of  Judge  Moran.  Admitted  to  practice  in  1879,  he  remained  with 
the  latter  firm  until  1882,  when  he  started  in  business  for  himself. 
Eminently  successful,  he  bears  a  high  reputation  for  careful  prep- 
aration, skillful  handling,  and  entirely  conscientious  treatment  of 
every  case  submitted  to  him.  He  has  been  appointed  a  Master 
in  Chancery  of  the  Superior  Court,  a  position  he  now  very  worthily 
fills. 

A  Democrat  in  politics,  consistent  and  unswerving,  Mr.  Sulli- 
van has  for  years  been  a  very  active  member  of  the  party.  He  was 


124  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OP    THE 

elected  to  the  Legislature  from  the  First  District  in  the  fall  of 
1880,  and  served  in  the  32d  and  33d  General  Assemblies.  Ap- 
pointed attorney  of  the  County  Board  in  September,  1883,  he  held 
the  position  until  January,  1888. 

The  roaming  instinct  in  him  is  strongly  developed.  He  has 
traveled  extensively  in  this  country  and  Europe,  and  for  six  years 
has  found  change,  relaxation  and  recreation  by  taking  his  sum- 
mer vacation  in  the  Eocky  Mountains. 

David  Sullivan  was  married  January  15,  1884,  to  Kate  A. 
Healy,  a  lady  pre-eminently  gifted  in  those  qualities  that  make  a 
happy  home  life.  They  have  two  children  living;  the  elder,  Ed- 
mund, was  born  in  1889,  and  the  younger,  a  daughter,  in  1895. 

A  member  of  a  number  of  societies,  among  others  the  National 
Union  and  the  Royal  League,  as  well  as  several  building  associa- 
tions, he  still  finds  time,  in  addition  to  his  home  and  professional 
duties,  to  devote  his  energies  to  the  cause  of  the  dear  home  land. 
lie  is  an  Irish  Nationalist  of  the  truest  type,  devoted  to  the  land 
of  his  birth,  antagonistic  to  the  country  that  has  held  her  so  long 
in  thrall,  and  ever  willing  to  contribute,  financially  or  otherwise, 
towards  the  furtherance  of  her  interests. 


EDWARD   J.    WALSH. 


Edward  J.  Walsh  was  born  at  a  place  called  Bauntha  near  the 
town  of  Callan,  County  of  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  on  the  20th  of  June, 
1860.  His  parents,  John  Walsh  and  Ellen  W.alsh,  nee  Lynch,  were 
of  the  farming  class  and  were  in  comfortable  circumstances.  The 
former  could  go  back  to  the  stirring  scenes  of  1798,  for  that  mem- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  127 

orable  year  saw  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  our  sketcli  with 
his  long  Queen  Anne  gun  and  knapsack  proceed  to  the  rebel  camp 
to  fight  for  independence.  In  after  years  John  Walsh  was  wont 
to  relate  to  his  neighbors  the  recollection  of  that  day  in  which 
his  father  joined  the  insurgent  ranks,  although  at  the  time  he 
was  only  about  five  years  old.  He  lived  to  a  green  old  age,  dying 
in  1881,  and  was  buried  beside  old  St.  Catharine's  Abbey  in  the 
town  of  Callan.  His  thorough  and  manly  independence  of  char- 
acter and  a  rugged  honesty  as  unyielding  in  its  purpose  as  the  cele- 
brated marble  of  his  native  count}',  had  gained  for  him  respect  and 
esteem,  but  he  was  at  the  same  time  possessed  of  a  heart  as  tender 
as  a  woman's  and  ever  responsive  to  the  wants  of  the  needy. 

The  County  of  Kilkenny  was  the  former  stronghold  of  the 
Walsh  sept.  Mr.  John  Savage,  in  his  "Picturesque  Ireland,"  says: 
"The  Walsh  family,  like  many  other  Anglo-Normans,  adopted  an 
Irish  surname  and  title,  and  was  known  for  ages  as  'Branach,' 
which  signifies  in  Irish,  a  Welshman.  At  an  early  period  it  had 
extensive  possessions  in  Waterford  and  Kilkenny.  For  four  cen- 
turies it  was  only  inferior  in  estate  and  power  to  the  Butlers  and 
the  Graces." 

Edward  J.  Walsh  first  attended  the  private  school  of  Walter 
llawe  in  the  town  of  Callan.  Subsequently  he  attended  the  Chris- 
tian Brothers'  School  at  the  same  place,  and  from  thence  entered 
St.  Kierau's  College,  Kilkenny,  where  he  remained  three  and  a  half 
years,  graduating  in  the  summer  of  1879.  While  in  college,  young 
Edward  was  remarkable  alike  for  his  physical  and  mental  energy, 
and  was  alike  foremost  in  all  sports  and  amusements  as  he  was 
in  his  classes.  The  reasoning  faculties  seemed  to  be  highly  devel- 
oped in  the  young  man.  Endowed  with  an  excellent  and  tenacious 
memory,  he  seldom  forgot  what  he  had  studied,  and  to  this  day 
he  is  remarkable  for  the  accuracy  which  he  brings  to  the  discussion 
of  historical  events.  In  college  he  was  a  general  favorite,  his 


128  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

warm  and  geuerous  nature  endearing  him  to  his  fellow  collegians. 
His  education  finished,  he  conducted  a  milling  establishment  at 
the  town  of  Callan  for  his  eldest  brother,  Thomas  Walsh,  who  is, 
at  the  present  time,  a  town  commissioner  of  that  place,  as  well  as 
a  poor  law  guardian.  This  brother  Thomas  was  an  ardent  mem- 
ber of  the  Fenian  Brotherhood,  and  in  1867,  being  marked  for 
prosecution  by  the  gentle  government  of  her  Britannic  majesty 
on  account  of  his  political  opinions,  he  hurriedly  came  to  this 
country,  where  he  remained  for  nearly  two  years.  Edward  ex- 
pressing a  desire  to  go  abroad,  his  brother  tried  to  induce  him  to 
remain  at  home,  even  offering  him  a  partnership  in  his  extensive 
business.  Disliking  a  mercantile  life,  Edward,  however,  declined, 
and  proceeded  to  this  country,  arriving  here  in  April,  1881.  The 
study  of  law  was  at  once  begun  under  the  distinguished  firm  of 
lawyers,  Messrs.  Wright,  Folkes  &  Wright,  of  Memphis,  Tenn., 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  that  State  on  the  3d  of  July,  1883. 
He  practiced  law  in  Memphis  during  the  following  year,  his  first 
civil  case  of  importance  taking  place  at  Sardis,  Mississippi,  and 
involving  the  title  to  a  considerable  quantity  of  cotton.  Mr. 
Walsh  represented  W.  B.  Galbraith  &  Co.  of  Memphis,  who  had 
a  mortgage  on  the  cotton  for  supplies,  and  the  only  Avitness  in 
the  case  was  the  man  who  raised  the  cotton.  On  arriving  at  Sar- 
dis, Mr.  Walsh  found  that  his  witness  was  completely  under  the 
influence  of  liquor  and  under  the  control  and  management  of  the 
opposition.  His  opponents  in  the  case  were  local  merchants  of 
Sardis.  In  this  dilemma  the  ready  wit  of  his  native  land  came 
to  bis  assistance.  His  first  move  was  to  induce  the  opposition  to 
waive  a  jury  and  consent  to  have  the  case  tried  by  the  court,  he 
wisely  deeming  that  a  local  jury  would  favor  the  local  merchants. 
The  opposition,  to  make  their  case,  had  to  place  upon  the  stand  the 
witness  just  mentioned,  who,  now  comparatively  sober,  testified 
directly  against  the  interests  of  Galbraith  &  Co.  Then  came  the 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  129 

cross-examination  by  Mr.  Walsh.  It  was  a  splendid  effort,  result- 
ing in  a  complete  victory  for  his  clients,  and  completely  breaking 
down  the  testimony  of  the  witness;  Mr.  Walsh,  in  addition  to 
winning  his  case,  was  highly  complimented  by  the  older  members 
of  the  bar  who  were  preseat  on  the  occasion. 

Arrived  in  Chicago  in  1884,  the  young  lawyer  possessed 
neither  friends  or  acquaintances  of  any  kind.  Having  a  high  opin- 
ion of  his  profession,  he  regarded  soliciting  for  business  as  unpro- 
fessional conduct,  and  under  those  circumstances  sought  a  position 
as  law  clerk  and  shortly  thereafter  entered  the  law  office  of  Fol- 
lansbee  &  O'Connor,  with  whom  he  remained  until  1886.  In  the 
meantime,  owing  to  a  difference  between  the  laws  of  Tennessee 
and  Illinois  on  the  subject,  Mr.  Walsh  had  to  undergo  a  new  exam- 
ination for  admission  to  the  bar,  but  which  examination  he  suc- 
cessfully underwent  in  March,  1885,  being  admitted  to  the  bar 
of  this  State  in  the  same  month. 

In  June,  1886,  he  connected  himself  with  Messrs.  Salomon  & 
Zeisler  of  this  city,  and  during  the  trial  of  the  Anarchist  case  and 
until  the  decision  of  the  same  in  the  Supreme  Court,  had  charge 
of  the  firm's  civil  business.  That  they  were  pleased  with  his  ser- 
vices is  best  shown  by  the  fact  that  during  that  period  he  had  com- 
plete charge  of  the  running  of  the  office,  the  interviewing  clients, 
and  charging  and  collecting  fees  in  the  premises.  After  the  dis- 
solution of  the  firm  of  Salomon  &  Zeisler  in  the  spring  of  1887, 
Mr.  Walsh  continued  his  connection  with  Mr.  Moses  Salomon,  and 
which  lasted  until  the  election  of  the  latter  to  the  State  Senate  in 
1892.  Mr.  Walsh  then  severed  his  connection  with  Mr.  Salomon, 
and  a  partnership  was  formed  in  February,  1893,  with  James  A. 
Brady,  under  the  name  of  Walsh  &  Brady.  This  partnership 
lasted  but  a  very  short  time,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  mutual 
consent,  since  which  time  Mr.  Walsh  has  practiced  alone.  His 
office  is  now  in  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  where  he  occupies  joint- 


130  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

ly  with  Mr.  Thomas  W.  Prindeville  a  splendid  suite  of  offices. 
While  connected  with  Mr.  Salomon,  the  latter  represented  the 
Central  Labor  Union,  and  questions  of  the  most  complicated  na- 
ture, involving  almost  every  branch  of  the  law,  were  continually 
coming  up.  During  this  period,  Mr.  Walsh  studied  very  hard, 
and  his  vigorous  constitution  enabled  him  to  do  an  immense 
amount  of  work  without  abatement  of  energy.  Scarcely  a  day 
passed  that  he  was  not  in  court  on  some  matter,  by  reason  of 
which,  and  the  possession  of  an  excellent  memory,  he  acquired  a 
great  proficiency  in  the  rules  of  pleading  and  practice,  so  essential 
to  the  success  of  the  modern  lawyer.  Nearly  all  of  the  briefs  in 
Mr.  Salomon's  cases  during  the  period  Mr.  Walsh  was  connected 
with  him  were  written  by  the  latter,  and  the  association  of  the  two 
men  ripened  into  friendship  which  happily  still  exists.  During 
these  years,  while  connected  with  these  firms,  Mr.  Walsh  adopted 
the  precaution  to  retain  his  own  clientage,  so  that  he  had  an 
extensive  business  when  he  formed  the  partnership  with  Mr. 
Brady.  Since  then  it  has  grown  rapidly.  At  the  last  term  of  the 
Supreme  and  Appellate  Courts,  he  had  four  cases  in  each  court. 
Among  his  clients  he  numbers  the  Suess  Ornamental  Glass  Co.,  the 
Cantwell  Eagle  Brewing  Co.,  Julius  Bauer  &  Co.,  Royal  Wine  Co., 
Charles  Creamery  Co.,  Chicago  Handle  Bar  Co.,  Madden  Brothers, 
M.  Naughton,  McNulty  Brothers,  etc.  His  business  is  that  of  a 
general  practitioner,  and  although  not  what  is  generally  called  a 
brilliant  man, he  possesses  in  avery  high  degreewhat  are  commonly 
known  as  common  sense  and  a  level  head.  His  success,  coming  to 
him  as  it  does,  without  the  aid  of  influential  friends  or  relatives, 
is  accounted  for  by  him  solely  on  the  ground  that  he  works  hard 
and  faithfully,  and  that  he  has  never  swerved  from  the  line  of 
absolute  integrity. 

Like  most  young  lawyers,  Mr.  Walsh  takes  considerable  inter- 
est in  politics.     Three  times  he  has  been  elected  by  acclamation 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  131 

president  of  the  Twenty-fifthWard  Democratic  Club.  He  usually 
attended  county  conventions  as  a  delegate,  and  was  a  delegate  to 
the  last  two  Democratic  state  conventions.  Although  frequently 
solicited  to  run  for  office,  up  to  the  present  time  he  has  steadily 
refused.  He  has  been  urged  by  his  friends  to  become  a  candidate 
for  judge,  but  this  also  he  has  declined,  holding  fast  to  the  theory 
that  the  office  should  seek  the  man  and  not  the  man  the  office. 

Mr.  Walsh  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Irish  Literary  So- 
ciety in  Memphis  and  helped  to  organize  the  Young  Ireland  So- 
ciety in  Chicago.  Deeming  all  secret  organizations  subversive  of 
individual  liberty,  he  has  not  sought  membership  in  the  ranks  of 
such  societies,  but  he  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Order  of  For- 
esters and  of  the  Columbus  Club. 

Mr.  Walsh  resides  at  4108  North  Ashland  Avenue,  Rogers  Park, 
and  is  a  member  of  St.  Jerome's  Church.  He  was  married  in 
1888  to  Maud  Washington,  formerly  of  New  Berne,  N.  C.,  and 
daughter  of  John  N.  Washington,  who  was  a  grandson  of  Louis 
Washington,  uncle  of  George  Washington.  Of  their  marriage  four 
children  have  been  born,  of  whom  three  are  living. 

The  Very  Rev.  William  Walsh,  now  of  Jackson,  Tenn.,  for- 
mtrly  of  Chattanooga  and  Memphis,  is  a  brother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  Father  Walsh  went  through  the  fevers  of  1878  and 
1879  in  Memphis,  establishing  there  the  celebrated  Camp  Father 
Mathew,  and  has  the  distinction  of  being  now  the  only  surviving 
priest  of  the  terrible  scourge  of  that  time. 


132  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 


HENRY  MARSHALL  COBURN. 

Henry  Marshall  Coburn  was  born  in  the  town  of  Lyons,  Cook 
County,  Illinois,  October  15th,  1855.  He  is  the  son  of  Henry  and 
Elizabeth  (Chittick)  Coburn,  his  father  being  a  native  of  Crane, 
County  Wexford,  Ireland,  born  there  in  1824.  The  grandfather  of 
our  subject  took  an  active  part  in  the  Irish  Rebellion  of  1798,  and 
was  a  direct  descendant  of  General  John  Coburn,  who  accom- 
panied Cromwell  from  England.  Henry  Coburn  left  Ireland  in 
1848,  and  coming  to  America,  first  settled  in  upper  Canada,  after- 
wards moved  to  Illinois,  where  he  located  in  Dupage  County,  and 
later  to  Cook  County,  where  he  still  lives.  He  married  Miss  Chit- 
tick,  a  native  of  County  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  a  lady  who  among 
her  ancestors  numbers  the  Marshalls  and  Hamiltons  of  Scotland, 
and  in  compliment  to  the  first  named,  her  son  was  given  his  mid- 
dle name. 

Henry  Marshall  Coburu  received  his  early  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  town  and  at  the  Englewood  high 
school.  The  latter  was  left  in  1877,  and  for  three  years  he  taught 
in  the  public  schools  of  Cook  County,  devoting  at  the  same  time 
whatever  hours  he  had  to  spare  to  the  study  of  law,  which  he  had 
determined  to  make  his  profession.  He  assisted  also  in  the  editing 
of  the  New  Era,  a  journal  established  by  his  brother,  John  J. 
Coburn — of  whom  a  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume— 
and  with  such  successful  results  that  a  large  circulation  was  en- 
joyed and  the  attention  of  journalists  all  over  the  state  attracted. 
Fearless  in  its  attacks  on  some  of  the  political  rings  in  local 
affairs,  the  course  it  pursued  led  to  many  exciting  episodes,  in 
which  both  of  the  young  men  necessarily  prominently  figured. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  133 

ilenry  Marshall  Coburn  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1887,  and 
was  later  granted  a  license  to  practice  before  the  United  States 
Court  and  the  Court  of  Appeals.  An  office  was  at  once  opened  in 
Chicago,  and  from  the  beginning  of  his  professional  career  good 
success  has  attended  his  efforts,  more  especially  in  his  criminal 
practice.  He  has  a  record  extending  all  over  the  western  states 
and  has  frequently  been  called  to  Colorado,  Indiana,  and  others, 
to  try  important  cases.  To  the  first  named  he  went  to  conduct  the 
defense  of  the  celebrated  "Silver  Bar  Case,"  being  afterwards  re- 
tained to  resist  the  celebrated  Captain  Tabor  in  the  Boulder-Min- 
gle fight,  to  which  a  great  deal  of  attention  was  attracted.  As 
counsel,  he  has  figured  in  numerous  cases,  some  of  which  have 
become  precedents,  and  in  a  great  many  others,  while  his  name 
has  not  appeared,  the  law  has  been  defined  by  him  and  the  plan 
of  defense  or  attack  laid  down.  He  devotes  himself  to  a  practice 
of  a  decidedly  general  character,  but  it  is  before  a  jury  that  he  is 
particularly  strong,  for  he  seems  to  understand  instinctively  what 
points  should  be  most  prominently  brought  forward,  and  how  wit- 
nesses should  be  dealt  with  in  order  to  convey  the  best  impres- 
sion. As  a  consulting  lawyer,  he  also  does  a  large  business,  and 
keeps  in  his  office  for  ready  reference  an  index  of  all  new  points 
of  law  decided  upon  by  the  courts  of  last  resort.  For  this  reason 
he  is  frequently  consulted  by  some  of  the  leading  lawyers  in  the 
profession  and  is  seldom  at  a  loss  for  a  sound  authority  in  point. 
Such  success  as  his  efforts  have  achieved  have  of  course  not  been 
without  good  pecuniary  return,  and  besides  the  enjoyment  of  a 
large  professional  income,  he  has  been  able  to  make  some  excellent 
investments. 

A  Democrat  always,  Mr.  Coburn  takes  a  great  interest  in  the 
politics  of  the  ward  in  which  he  lives — the  30th — and  when  impor- 
tant matters  are  under  discussion,  is  always  called  upon  to  speak. 

Mr.  Coburn  was  married,  July  17th,  1890,  to  Adeline,  daughter 


134  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  Captain  Palmer,  prosecuting  attorney  of  the  Citizens'  League 
of  Englewood.  They  have  a  beautiful  and  refined  home  at  No. 
5522  Sherman  Street,  where  it  is  the  delight  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Co- 
burn  to  welcome  their  numerous  friends. 


JOHN   T.   KEATING. 


If  to  be  known  to  every  Irish  American  in  Chicago  and  de- 
servedly respected  and  esteemed  not  merely  for  his  own  personal 
qualities,  but  also  for  the  able  work  he  has  done  in  this  country 
for  suffering  Ireland,  be  to  deserve  a  place  among  representative 
American  Irish,  then  surely  no  one  better  deserves  such  than  John 
T.  Keating,  state  president  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians. 

In  the  fair  city  of  Cork,  near  the  chiming  of  the  famed  Shan- 
don  bells,  on  July  7th,  1853,  Mr.  Keating  was  born.  His  father, 
Daniel  Dorniuick  Keating,  was  a  business  man  engaged  in  butter 
exporting  and,  as  well  as  his  mother,  formerly  Kate  Tyrell,  was 
of  good  Irish  origin.  Not  unblessed  with  fortune,  they  were  able 
to  give  their  son  a  thorough  education.  He  was  sent  first  to  Mil- 
li  ken's  private  school  at  Cork,  later  entering  Rockwells  College  at 
Tipperary,  and  completing  his  schooling  at  the  French  College, 
Black  Rock,  near  Dublin. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  found  employment,  in  one  of  the 
leading  mercantile  houses  in  Cork,  the  well  known  Clery  & 
Company,  a  few  months  later  starting  in  business  for  himself  at 
Middleton.  He  was  successful  in  his  efforts,  but  from  his  earlier 
years  the  cause  of  Ireland  had  strongly  appealed  to  him,  and  at 
seventeen  he  was  already  guild  warden  of  the  Young  Men's  So- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN   CHICAGO.  137 

ciety  of  Cork,  and  a  sympathizer  with  the  secret  political  move- 
ments, which  he  hoped  might  obtain  her  freedom.  The  conse- 
quence was  precisely  similar  to  that  which  befell  his  close  friend 
and  fellow  worker  in  the  cause,  John  F.  Finerty,  and  his  activity 
in  the  cause  of  Irish  liberty  necessitated  his  leaving  Ireland.  It 
was  while  the  troubles  of  the  Land  League  were  in  full  force  in 
1882  that  Mr.  Keating  started  for  America,  and  after  a  short 
stay  in  the  East  he  came  to  Chicago.  He  soon  found  a  situation 
with  the  firm  of  M.  W.  Kerwin  &  Company,  and  two  years  later 
was  engaged  by  the  well  known  firm  of  Dallamand  &  Company 
as  superintendent. 

As  during  the  seventies  he  had  been  closely  associated  with 
the  Amnesty  Association,  on  his  arrival  in  Chicago  he  immediately 
connected  himself  with  the  Hibernians.  His  progress  in  that 
organization  was  rapid.  In  1890  he  became  president  of  Division 
36  in  Hyde  Park  and  held  that  position  for  six  years.  He  was 
unanimously  elected  state  president  of  the  order  at  the  biennial 
convention  at  East  St.  Louis  in  1894  and  re-elected  in  May,  1890, 
at  Danville,  111.  There  is  no  state  officer  who  can  point  to  such  a 
showing  as  him  or  who  has  been  so  instrumental  in  the  material 
progress  of  the  order.  For  the  great  Irish  day  at  the  World's 
Fair  he  was  secretary  of  arrangements,  as  also  of  the  new  Irish 
movement  which  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the  Irish  National 
Alliance,  and  he  received  and  cared  for  several  thousand  delegates 
with  absolutely  no  hitch  in  any  of  the  details.  He  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  the  Irish  Employment  Bureau  and  takes  great  interest 
in  its  working. 

Mr.  Keating  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters, 
in  which  he  has  held  office;  of  the  Catholic  Foresters  since  1880; 
was  district  ranger  of  St.  Cecilia's  Court  in  1888,  and  was  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  United  Irish  Society  for  a  couple  of  terms  in  1894  and 
1895. 


138  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

In  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat  and  was  active  in  his 
party  and  an  attendant  of  all  ward  organizations  until  the  gang 
rule  of  1894  estranged  him. 

He  was  married,  October  25th,  1877,  to  Margaret  Frances 
Stampe,  a  native  of  County  Cork,  and  their  union  has  resulted 
in  seven  children,  Kate,  Nell,  Madge,  Dominick,  May,  Anna  and 
Esther. 

Mr.  Keating  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  in  addition  to  his  sev- 
eral friendly  societies,  is  an  active  member  of  the  Columbus  Club. 


HARVEY  B.  HURD. 


Harvey  B.  Hurd  is  so  well  known  as  one  of  Chicago's  most  dis- 
tinguished, most  useful,  and  most  highly  esteemed  citizens,  that 
it  may  seem  almost  supererogatory  to  republish  the  record  of  his 
life.  At  the  same  time  such  a  record  must  be  acceptable  to  many 
who  may  not  have  had  the  opportunity  of  acquaintance  with  his 
early  struggles,  although  fully  conversant  with  his  success  and 
achievements. 

Harvey  B.  Hurd  was  born  February  14th,  1828,  in  the  town  of 
Huntington,  Fairfield  County,  Conn.  His  father,  Alonson  Hurd, 
was  a  member  of  the  notable  Hurd  family  of  New  England,  who 
are  of  English  descent,  and  many  of  whom  have  distinguished 
records  not  only  in  New  England  but  throughout  the  United 
States.  On  his  mother's  side  he  was  of  Irish  and  Dutch  extraction 
and  unquestionably  the  union  of  the  warm  and  impulsive  blood 
of  Erin  with  that  of  sturdy  England  and  the  Puritans  in  a  large 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  139 

measure  accounted  for  his  future  brilliant  career.  When  only 
fourteen  years  of  age,  on  May  1st,  1842,  Harvey  started  out  on 
foot  for  Bridgeport,  carrying  the  whole  of  his  personal  property 
in  a  pocket  handkerchief  and  armed  only  with  the  meager  educa- 
tion obtained  from  the  district  school  near  his  father's  farm,  which 
he  had  attended  during  the  winter  months.  What  he  did  possess, 
however,  for  his  capital  were  grit,  perseverance,  and  good  princi- 
ples, and  employment  was  quickly  found  as  an  apprentice  in  the 
office  of  the  old  Bridgeport  Standard.  In  that  position  he  re- 
mained for  about  two  years,  ever  attentive  to  his  business  and  at 
the  same  time  losing  no  opportunity  of  gaining  knowledge  and 
advancing  his  education.  Towards  the  close  of  1844,  having  with 
several  other  young  men  come  to  Illinois,  he  entered  Jubilee  Col- 
lege, in  Peoria  County,  but  on  account  of  some^  misunderstanding 
between  himself  and  the  president  of  the  college,  he  only  stayed 
about  a  year,  when  he  left  and  went  to  Peoria  with  the  object  of 
finding  employment,  either  at  printing  or  any  honest  work.  Un- 
successful in  his  efforts,  he  decided  to  come  to  Chicago,  and  made 
the  journey  in  one  of  the  old  baggage  stages,  arriving  January 
7th,  1846.  A  place  was  obtained  in  the  office  of  the  Evening  Jour- 
nal, and  later  with  the  Prairie  Farmer,  in  the  meantime  taking 
every  opportunity  of  reading  law,  and  in  the  fall  of  1847  en- 
tering the  law  office  of  Calvin  De  Wolf,  where  he  made  such 
rapid  progress  that  the  following  year  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
His  first  law  partner  was  Carlos  Haven,  afterwards  State's 
Attorney,  and  he  later  associated  himself  with  Henry  Snapp,  who 
afterwards  represented  the  Joliet  district  in  Congress.  From  1850 
to  1854  he  was  associated  with  Andrew  J.  Brown,  and  from  1800 
to  1868  with  Hon.  Henry  Booth.  In  the  latter  year  Mr.  Hurd  re- 
tired from  active  practice.  For  some  time  he  had  devoted  special 
attention  to  real  estate  enterprises,  and  the  firm  of  Brown  &  Hurd 
had  considerable  transactions  in  that  direction,  especially  in  the 


140  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

village  of  Evanston.  Mr.  Hurd  was  indeed  among  the  first  to 
build  in  that  place,  and  was  the  first  president  of  the  Village 
Board.  He  commenced  building  his  present  residence  in  1854,  and 
while  then  looked  on  as  quite  a  mansion,  it  still  holds  its  own 
among  the  most  handsome  residences  in  that  charming  suburb. 

In  the  commercial  prosperity  of  Chicago  Mr.  nurd  has  always 
taken  the  greatest  interest,  and  more  especially  in  its  sanitary 
advancement  and  development.  He  is  duly  credited  with  being 
the  father  of  the  new  drainage  system,  by  which  the  sewage  of 
the  city  instead  of  being  discharged  into  Lake  Michigan,  the  source 
of  water  supply,  is  to  be  carried  into  the  Illinois  River  by  means 
of  a  capacious  channel  across  what  is  known  as  the  Chicago  divide. 
While  Mr.  Hurd  was  not  the  first  to  suggest  such  a  channel,  he  is 
the  originator  of  tjie  plan  of  erecting  a  municipality  distinct  from 
the  City  of  Chicago,  and  to  him  is  certainly  due  the  credit  of  hav- 
ing put  the  project  into  such  practical  shape  as  to  insure  its  suc- 
cess. The  undertaking  is  now  in  a  fair  way  to  be  accomplished, 
and  when  it  is,  will  unquestionably  be  regarded  as  among  the 
most  important  achievements  of  the  age. 

Mr.  Hurd  was  the  author  of  the  "Hurd  bill"  introduced  in  the 
Legislature  of  1886,  and  did  much  to  promote  its  passage  at  the 
session.  These  efforts  were  the  means  of  a  legislative  commission 
being  appointed  to  further  investigate  the  subject  and  take  action 
in  its  behalf,  and  the  bill  reported  by  that  commission  and  passed 
in  1887,  though  differing  in  some  respects  from  the  original  "Ilurd 
bill,"  was  the  same  in  all  important  particulars,  and  was  supported 
before  the  Legislature  by  Mr.  Hurd  and  his  friends. 

Mr.  Hurd  was  the  chief  factor  in  the  organization  of  the  dis- 
trict and  the  adoption  of  the  act  of  the  people,  and  it  was  passed 
by  an  almost  unanimous  vote  at  the  November  election  in  the  year 
1887.  He  has  not  ceased  to  devote  his  energies  to  the  success  of 
the  plan  in  the  broad  scale  he  originally  designed.  In  1862  Mr. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  141 

Hurd  accepted  the  position  of  lecturer  in  the  Law  Department  of 
the  University  of  Chicago,  which  he  filled  most  acceptably  until 
compelled  by  his  various  other  duties  to  relinquish  the  work.  In 
1874  he  was  again  elected  to  a  chair  in  the  Law  School,  which  had 
become  the  Union  College  of  Law.  This  was  a  thoroughly  con- 
genial position  to  Mr.  Hurd,  and  in  his  academic  work  he  mani- 
fests the  same  invaluable  traits  that  characterized  his  professional 
and  public  life,  imparting  to  his  classes  a  thorough  understanding 
of  principles,  as  well  as  systematic  and  methodical  habits.  In  18G9 
Mr.  Hurd  was  appointed,  by  Governor  Palmer,  one  of  three  com- 
missioners to  revise  and  rewrite  the  general  statutes  of  the  State 
of  Illinois.  Both  his  colleagues  soon  had  to  withdraw,  leaving 
him  the  bulk  of  the  work,  which  he  completed  five  years  later, 
and  the  final  chapters  of  which  were  adopted  by  the  Twenty-eighth 
General  Assembly,  which  adjourned  April,  1874.  That  body  ap- 
pointed Mr.  Hurd  to  edit  and  supervise  the  publication  of  the  re- 
vision, which  he  accomplished  the  following  September  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  the  people  of  the  State.  The  success  of  the 
work  was  immediate,  and  Mr.  Hurd  has  since  been  called  upon 
to  edit  nine  subsequent  editions,  each  of  which  has  been  com- 
mended by  the  most  eminent  jurists. 

Mr.  Third's  love  of  liberty  and  deep  sense  of  justice  made  him 
a  most  zealous  abolitionist,  and  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  stir- 
ring events  that  took  place  in  Chicago  before  and  after  the  repeal 
of  the  Missouri  compromise  and  the  passage  of  the  Kansas  and 
Nebraska  bill.  When  emigration  societies  were  formed  in  the 
free  States  to  promote  settlement  of  free  soil  settlers,  and  a  Na- 
tional Kansas  Committee  was  organized  at  the  historic  Buffalo 
Convention  to  protect  these  settlers,  Mr.  Hurd  was  made  secretary 
of  the  committee  and  of  its  executive  committee,  which  was  com- 
posed of  General  J.  D.  Webster,  George  W.  Dole,  and  himself,  with 
headquarters  at  Chicago.  He  had  for  his  assistant  Horace  White, 


142  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

afterwards  editor  of  the  Chicago  Tribune.  It  is  a  matter  of  his- 
tory that  by  his  management  of  the  contest  on  the  part  of  the  North 
and  at  last  by  the  liberal  shipment  of  seeds  to  Kansas  in  the  spring 
of  185G,  and  other  energetic  measures,  Mr.  Hurd  was  instrumental 
in  retaining  the  free  soil  settlers  in  Kansas,  who  finally  outnum- 
bered and  prevailed  over  the  pro-slavery  element. 

When  chairman  of  the  law  reform  committee  of  the  Illinois 
State  Bar  Association,  in  1889,  he  brought  forward  a  recommen- 
dation in  favor  of  a  change  in  the  laws  of  descent  and  wills,  so  as 
to  limit  the  amount  one  may  take  by  descent  or  will,  and  which 
has  attracted  considerable  attention,  its  object  being  to  break  up 
the  large  estates  by  distributing  the  same  among  a  greater  num- 
ber of  kinsmen.  He  was  also  at  the  head  of  the  commission  ap- 
pointed to  investigate  as  to  the  desirability  of  introducing  the 
Torrens  system  of  registration  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Since  that  time  he  has  not  allowed  his  name  to  be  used  in 
connection  with  any  official  position,  having  no  aspiration  towards 
further  honors  that  might  come  to  him  through  politics,  far  pre- 
ferring the  comparatively  quiet  life  of  a  retired  lawyer  with  its 
greater  leisure  for  indulgence  in  literary  tastes.  He  has  inter- 
ested himself  in  a  number  of  charitable  and  philanthropic  move- 
ments, among  which  may  be  mentioned  the  Children's  Aid  Society 
of  Chicago,  and  the  Conference  of  Charities  of  Illinois,  an  organi- 
zation composed  of  all  charitable  societies  and  of  both  of  which 
he  is  president. 

Mr.  Hurd  was  married  May,  1853,  to  Miss  Cornelia  A.  Hilliard, 
daughter  of  the  late  Captain  James  Hilliard  of  Middletown,  Conn., 
who  bore  him  three  children — Eda,  now  Mrs.  George  S.  Lord ;  Nel- 
lie, now  Mrs.  John  A.  Comstock;  and  Hettie,  who  died  in  1884. 
This  lady  died  in  1856;  and  November  1st,  1860,  he  married  Sarah, 
widow  of  the  late  George  Collins — she  died  January,  1890.  In  July, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  143 

1892,  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Susannah  M.  Van  Wyke,  since  de- 
ceased. 

Mr.  Hurd  is  not  only  a  man  of  great  knowledge  and  high  at- 
tainments, as  his  record  shows,  but  is  also  possessed  of  most  genial 
disposition  and  courteous  and  kindly  manners,  which,  it  is  almost 
unnecessary  to  say,  gains  and  retains  the  affection  and  esteem  of 
all  who  know  him. 


DR.  ANTHONY  F.  CONROY. 


The  West  of  Ireland  is  well  represented  among  the  leading 
citizens  of  Chicago  in  all  professions,  and  in  every  branch  of  busi- 
ness. In  that  of  dentistry,  Dr.  Anthony  F.  Conroy,  who  was  born 
May  4th,  1868,  in  the  City  of  Galway,  Ireland,  and  who  came  to 
this  country  in  1886,  has  already  taken  leading  rank. 

His  parents  were  Patrick  M.  and  Ellen  Conroy.  His  father, 
also  a  native  of  Galway,  died  in  February,  1890,  at  the  age  of  ftfty- 
tive,  while  his  mother  is  still  living  in  the  old  homestead.  His 
grandfather,  Patrick  Conroy,  was  one  of  the  largest  land  owners 
in  the  county,  and  is  remembered  as  the  oldest  man  who  ever  lived 
in  County  Galway.  He  died  there  at  the  great  age  of  108  years. 

Ills  early  education  was  sound  and  thorough;  the  Irish  schools 
are  second  to  none  in  the  world  in  their  teaching  of  youth.  Arriv- 
ing in  the  United  States,  he  entered  the  University  of  Minnesota, 
and  later  connected  himself  with  the  Bennett  College,  and  the 
Harvard  Medical  College,  both  Chicago  institutions.  Afterwards 
Mr.  Conroy  joined  St.  Paul's  College  of  Dentistry,  where  he  grad- 
uated in  medicine  in  1890,  and  after  four  years'  course,  also  in 


144  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

dentistry.  Iii  order  to  support  himself  during  his  studies,  he 
worked  during  the  day,  first  in  a  law  office,  and  then  as  book- 
keeper in  a  wholesale  general  store  at  St.  Paul,  reading  law  at 
nights. 

He  demonstrated  the  possession  of  business  abilities  of  the 
very  highest  order,  utilizing  his  slender  capital  to  such  good  pur- 
pose that  before  he  was  twenty-one  he  had  cleared  over  f  13,000  in 
real  estate  deals. 

While  in  St.  Paul,  Dr.  Conroy  was  a  member  of  G  Company, 
Hibernia  Rifles,  and  on  removal  to  Chicago  joined,  and  is  a  very 
active  member  of  the  Seventh  Regiment.  Since  his  first  coming 
to  this  country  he  has  also  been  associated  with  the  Ancient  Order 
of  Hibernians. 


FREMONT   HILL. 


That  a  young  man  while  still  in  the  early  thirties  should  have 
been  able  to  display  such  marked  abilities  as  to  obtain  a  foremost 
place  among  the  leading  engineers  of  such  a  city  as  Chicago — 
the  capital  of  the  Western  world — speaks  beyond  fear  of  question 
to  the  possession  of  great  and  unusual  business  faculties  and  abil- 
ities. Partner  with  Louis  Enricht,  the  choice  of  the  Republican 
party  for  county  surveyor,  the  firm  of  Hill  &  Enricht  are  trans- 
acting an  enormous  business  and  has  since  it  was  formed  five  years 
ago,  carried  out  work  of  such  description  as  to  entitle  it  to  a  posi- 
tion second  to  none  in  the  West. 

Fremont  Hill  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  June  10th,  1863. 
His  father,  Alfred  Hill,  who  was  born  in  Marietta,  Ohio,  and 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  147 

died  in  1881,  was  well  known  as  the  largest  contractor  in  that 
state.  Starting  out  without  means  or  other  advantages,  he  at- 
tained a  foremost  position.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  Martha  J.  (Wainwright)  Hill,  was  born  in  Philadelphia, 
Penn.,  of  Irish  descent.  The  grandfather  of  Mr.  Hill  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  first  party  to  cross  the  Alleghany  Mountains  and  settle 
in  the  Northwest  Territory,  where  the  Hill  family  are  largely  rep- 
resented. His  maternal  grandfather  established  the  first  great 
academy  west  of  the  Alleghauy  Mountains.  Up  to  the  age  of 
eighteen,  young  Hill  attended  the  public  schools,  graduating  with 
honors  in  1881  from  the  Hughes  School  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  The 
profession  of  engineering  had  been  early  decided  upon,  and  in  the 
interim  between  examination  and  Commencement  day  young  Hill 
eagerly  embraced  an  opportunity  of  practically  entering  upon  his 
chosen  work.  He  had  pursued  a  course  of  practical  engineering 
at  school,  and  was  offered  a  flattering  position  on  the  Cincinnati 
Northern  Railroad,  then  under  construction.  He  was  desirous  of 
knowing  his  profession  thoroughly,  however,  and  by  his  own  re- 
quest was  appointed  an  axeman  under  Division  Engineer  George 
Dorr.  This  piece  of  work  lasted  until  the  following  February,  and 
while  his  late  school  companions  were  enjoying  the  honors  and 
applause  of  Commencement,  he  was  making  steady  progress  in  the 
field  of  practical  work.  The  Hughes  School  has  since  forwarded 
him  a  special  diploma.  He  went  through  all  the  steps,  becoming 
chainman,  levelman,  and  transitman  before  ten  mouths  had 
passed. 

This  short  period  sufficed  for  him  to  give  evidence  of  such  abil- 
ity that  the  moment,  the  work  was  completed  he  was  appointed 
one  of  the  division  engineers  of  the  New  Orleans  &  North  Eastern 
Railroad.  In  this  position  he  was  engaged  on  the  construction 
of  the  great  bridge  across  the  Pontchartrain  swamp,  the  longest 
piece  of  trestle  construction  in  the  world,  being  twenty-two  and  a 


148  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

half  miles  in  length.  The  work  was  difficult  in  the  extreme,  and 
when  it  was  finished  the  young  engineer,  not  yet  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  was  broken  down  by  the  frightful  fevers  caught  among  the 
swamps. 

For  the  winter  he  returned  to  Cincinnati,  and  in  the  spring  fol- 
lowing went  to  the  republic  of  Mexico  to  work  on  the  Moun- 
tain division  of  the  Tampico  branch  of  the  Mexican  Central  R.  R. 
Yellow  fever  broke  out  among  the  engineers  and  workmen,  and 
although  Mr.  Hill  was  anxious  to  reorganize  a  force  and  continue 
the  work,  the  railroad  people  decided  to  abandon  it  for  the  time 
being.  His  next  field  of  work  was  in  Florida,  where  he  laid  out 
several  towns.  Soon  after  this  he  went  to  Colorado,  having  been 
appointed  Assistant  Inspector  General  of  Surveys  for  the  South- 
western district  of  the  United  States.  At  the  end  of  his  term  of 
service  in  this  position,  Mr.  Hill  purchased  a  saw  mill  property  in 
Colorado.  He  has  many  and  exciting  adventures  to  relate  of  this 
time,  and  is  perhaps  the  only  man  in  the  world  who  ever  saw  an 
avalanche  at  close  range  from  its  birth  to  its  destructive  end,  and 
is  yet  living  to  tell  the  tale. 

Leaving  Colorado  he  went  to  California,  having  been  called 
to  San  Francisco  to  consider  propositions  to  undertake  important 
work  on  the  Panama  Canal.  Although  flattering  offers  were  made 
to  him,  he  preferred  to  remain  in  the  United  States,  and  accepted 
the  position  of  locating  engineer  on  the  Chesapeake  &  Ohio  R.  R., 
soon  after  being  made  division  engineer  on  the  same  work.  His 
work  at  this  time,  the  completion  in  less  than  six  months  of  twelve 
miles  of  exceedingly  difficult  railroad  building  along  the  south 
bank  of  the  Ohio  River,  in  Kentucky,  and  many  months  before  any 
other  section  of  the  road  was  finished,  marks  his  great  energy  and 
ability.  Under  Captain  Stack  he  was  later  assistant  locating  en- 
gineer on  the  Ohio  and  Northwestern  R  R. 

Being  in  Cincinnati  in  1886,  the  confidence  reposed  in  his  good 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  149 

judgment  and  executive  ability  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  dur- 
ing the  terrible  riots  there,  Mr.  Hill  was  placed  in  command  of  a 
battery  defending  the  jail,  and  for  a  week  protected  that  institu- 
tion, the  objective  point  of  the  rioters,  although  the  adjoining 
court  house  was  meantime  burned  to  the  ground. 

The  gas  fields  at  Findlay,  Ohio,  attracted  his  attention  next — 
this  was  in  1887 — and  his  investments  and  work  in  that  territory 
were  financially  successful.  Being  desirous,  however,  of  active 
work  in  his  profession,  it  was  not  surprising  to  find  him  abandon- 
ing the  speculative  for  the  active  field.  Chicago  had  been  long 
locked  upon  by  him  as  the  best  field  for  his  energetic  abilities,  and 
accepting  the  position  of  track  engineer  of  the  Santa  Fe  B.  R.,  he 
remained  in  that  position  until  the  completion  of  the  road.  He 
was  then  appointed  by  Mayor  Roche,  Assistant  City  Engineer,  hav- 
ing in  his  charge  the  south  division  of  the  city.  At  the  close  of 
his  term  he  opened  offices  in  Chicago,  and  has  continued  up  to  the 
present  in  business  here. 

Foreseeing  the  rapid  growth  of  the  suburban  towns  of  the  city, 
he  paid  particular  attention  to  the  engineering  needs  of  these  com- 
munities, and  the  waterworks,  sewers  and  streets  of  some  of  the 
loveliest  of  Chicago's  suburbs  are  his  handiwork.  Among  others 
may  be  mentioned:  West  Auburn;  May  wood,  with  thirty  miles 
of  water  pipe;  West  Pullman;  Wilniette,  twenty-six  miles  water 
pipe  and  twenty-six  miles  sewer,  costing  $400,000;  La  Grange,  and 
Grossdale. 

Soon  after  the  spring  election  of  1896,  it  was  generally  under- 
stood that  there  would  be  important  changes  in  the  personnel  of 
the  engineering  corps  in  charge  of  the  work  of  constructing  the 
Drainage  Canal.  It  has  been  persistently  said  that,  from  the  time 
these  changes  were  first  mooted  up  to  the  present,  the  successor  to 
the  present  chief  engineer  would  be  Mr.  Fremont  Hill,  of  the  firm 
of  Hill  &  Enricht,  engineers  in  this  city. 


150  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  Drainage  Canal  ranks  among  the  greatest  and  most  im- 
portant engineering  enterprises  known  to  modern  civilization.  In 
addition  to  the  material  difficulties  and  problems  to  be  met  and 
overcome,  others,  due  to  the  political,  financial  and  local  condi- 
tions under  which  the  work  must  be  carried  on,  make  it  a  matter 
of  prime  importance  that  the  chief  engineer  should  not  only  be 
thoroughly  competent  from  the  technical  point  of  view,  but  should 
possess  great  executive  ability  and  a  perfect  comprehension  of  the 
peculiar  factors  entering  into  the  task  he  undertakes.  Whoever 
is  chosen  must  be  intensely  practical,  a  hater  of  all  desultory  meth- 
ods, and  with  determination  to  complete  the  canal  at  the  mini- 
mum expenditure  of  money.  Those  who  are  best  acquainted  with 
Mr.  Hill  say  that  he  fulfills  all  these  requirements,  and  possesses 
every  necessary  qualification  in  a  most  eminent  degree,  referring 
to  his  record  in  support  of  their  contention. 

Early  in  1893  Mr.  Hill  married  Miss  Edith  M.  Hoover,  daugh- 
ter of  J.  W.  Brubeker,  Esq.,  of  Lancaster,  Penn.,  and  lives  in  a 
charming  home  in  the  Village  of  La  Grange,  which  his  active  work- 
ing has  so  greatly  helped  to  beautify.  He  has  two  brothers,  both 
older,  of  whom  the  elder,  Alfred,  is  a  retired  lawyer  and  capitalist 
in  Cincinnati,  and  the  other,  Frank  K.,  is  Lieutenant  in  the  U.  S. 
Navy,  being  now  stationed  on  the  U.  S.  Cruiser  New  York. 

Mr.  Hill  is  a  fine  specimen  of  young  American  manhood.  He 
stands  over  six  feet  in  height,  and  is  in  the  pink  of  physical  per- 
fection. His  personality  is  a  very  winning  one,  and  his  manners 
invariably  courteous,  but  at  the  same  time  frank  and  open;  even 
to  make  his  acquaintance  is  to  be  anxious  to  secure  him  for  a 
friend.  His  practical  work  in  the  field  has  been  supplemented 
by  careful  study,  and  he  is  so  thoroughly  equipped  in  his  profes- 
sion that  during  the  past  few  months  he  has  been  in  serious  cor- 
respondence with  the  authorities  of  the  Russian  Empire  in  regard 
to  undertaking  the  difficult  mountain  work  on  the  Trans-Siberian 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  151 

K.  K.,  the  construction  of  canal  and  irrigation  works,  and  general 
engineering  development  of  that  country.  The  inducements,  how- 
ever, will  need  to  be  very  strong,  for  he  prefers  to  remain  in  the 
United  States,  and  confidently  expects  to  win  as  great  and  lasting 
a  renown  here  as  could  be  gained  abroad.  His  success  in  business 
he  considers  due  to  the  fact  that,  while  he  demands  a  fair  price, 
he  never  does  any  but  first  class  work,  and  Mr.  Hill  can  certainly 
point  to  many  achievements  in  support  of  the  latter  contention. 


MATTHEW  J.  CORCORAN. 


Matthew  J.  Corcoran  is  another  of  this  city's  young  Irish  Amer- 
icans who  deserves  mention  in  this  record.  Born  on  October  13th, 
1865,  at  Mountmellick,  Queens  County,  Ireland,  his  parents  were 
Matthew  and  Margaret  (Bowe)  Corcoran,  both  of  whom  are  still 
living  in  the  old  homestead,  the  birthplace  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  Matthew  Corcoran  is  by  occupation  a  farmer,  and  in  addi- 
tion to  the  farm  he  rents  he  owns  considerable  real  property  in 
Mouutmellick.  The  family  has  always  been  enthusiastically  Irish. 
The  grandfather  of  Matthew  J.  was  a  member  of  the  United  Irish- 
men, and  the  company  of  which  he  was  captain  stood  all  prepared 
for  the  summons  to  join  Robert  Emmet,  and  which  never  being 
given,  the  company  had  to  be  disbanded. 

Matthew  J.  Corcoran  received  his  education  in  'the  national 
school  at  Mountmellick,  Queens  County,  Ireland.  His  schooling 
oArer,  for  four  years  lie  served  at  the  dry  goods  business  in  the  store 
of  John  McMahon,  who,  at  the  time,  was  chairman  of  the  Mount- 


152  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

mellick  Town  Commissioners.  He  then  went  to  Dublin  and  be- 
came a  salesman  with  the  well  known  firm  of  general  merchants, 
Pirn  Brothers,  on  South  Great  George's  Street,  where  he  remained 
for  three  years.  Returning  to  his  home  in  Monntmellick  on  a  visit, 
he  was  offered  and  accepted  the  superintendency  of  Mr.  McMa- 
hon's  growing  business.  Here  he  remained  until  1886,  when  his 
ambition  led  him  to  follow  the  example  of  many  of  his  country- 
men by  coming  to  the  United  States,  where  from  the  first  he  has 
been  emine.ntly  successful. 

He  received  the  appointment  of  Deputy  Sheriff  in  1894  under 
Sheriff  James  H.  Gilbert  on  the  recommendation  of  Judge  Frank 
Baker,  of  the  Circuit  Court,  and  was  reappointed  by  Sheriff  James 
Pease  to  the  position,  in  which  he  continues  at  the  present  writing. 

Mr.  Corcoran  has,  from  a  youth,  been  closely  identified  with 
Irish  affairs,  and  before  he  left  Ireland  was  a  member  and  secre- 
tary of  a  local  branch  of  the  Land  League  as  well  as  a  member  of 
the  National  League.  At  the  present  time  he  belongs  to  Division 
12,  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  and  for  two  terms  held  the  posi- 
tion of  recording  secretary.  He  is  connected  with  the  Charles  J. 
Kickham  Literary  and  Social  Club,  with  the  St.  Anne's  Catholic 
Total  Abstinence  Society,  belongs  to  the  Royal  League,  and  also 
to  the  Irish-American  Lyceum. 

A  Roman  Catholic  in  his  religious  views,  he  is  in  politics  a  Dem- 
ocrat, and  at  the  present  time  secretary  of  the  Fourth  Ward  Dem- 
ocratic Club  and  also  a  member  of  the  Cook  County  Democracy. 

In  personal  appearance  Mr.  Corcoran  is  very  tall — six  feet  two 
inches — and  rather  slim.  When  a  boy,  football  and  cricket  were 
his  great  pleasures,  and  now  he  is  a  firm  believer  in  bicycling.  For 
total  abstinence  there  is  to-day  no  more  thorough  advocate  in  Chi- 
cago, and  Mr.  Corcoran  has  oftentimes  given  it  as  his  heartfelt 
opinion,  that  those  of  the  Irish  race  would  be  the  greatest  people 
on  the  face  of  God's  green  earth  if  more  temperance  was  exercised 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN   CHICAGO.  153 

in  the  drinking  habit.  To  his  strong  conviction  on  the  subject  and 
his  complete  adherence  to  its  dictates  he  believes  whatever  of  suc- 
cess has  attended  his  energetic  endeavors  to  be  unquestionably  due. 
Ireland  is  to  him  well  known  ground,  for  all  its  chiefest  features 
and  most  beautiful  spots  have  been  visited  and  studied.  An  in- 
teresting conversationalist,  a  man  of  good  judgment,  pleasant  in 
his  manner  and  happy  in  every  incident  of  social  intercourse,  Mr. 
Corcoran  possesses  and  is  esteemed  and  respected  by  a  host  of 
friends. 


LAWRENCE   HENELY. 


Lawrence  Henely  was  born  in  London,  England,  February  1st, 
1847.  Of  his  parents,  John  and  Winnifred  (Dowliug)  Henely,  his 
father  was  a  native  of  Tuam,  County  Galway,  Ireland,  and  had 
connected  himself  with  the  Ribbon  Men  of  1847  and  1848.  A  tailor- 
by  trade,  he  had  come  to  the  United  States  about  the  year  184!), 
settling  first  in  New  York,  later  in  Lexington,  Ky.,  and  finally  mov- 
ing to  Iowa  in  the  year  1854,  where  he  now  resides.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  was  from  Queens  County,  Ireland,  and  died  in  Iowa  in 
1S92. 

Lawrence  Flenely  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Iowa, 
which  he  left  in  1866,  and  went  to  Omaha,  Neb.,  securing  employ- 
ment with  the  wholesale  grocery  house  of  Creighton  &  Morgan,  lie 
remained  with  this  firm  as  book-keeper  for  four  years.  Chicago 
was  chosen  as  his  home  in  1874,  and  he  embarked  in  the  grocery 
business  on  his  own  account.  At  this  business  he  continued  until 
in  1890  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Cooke  Brewing  Company  as 


154  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

cashier  and  head  book-keeper,  a  position  he  holds  at  the  present 
time. 

Mr.  Henely  was  married,  in  1869,  to  Miss  Anastasi  Conway, 
daughter  of  Robert  Conway,  of  Dubuque,  Iowa.  The  latter  was  a 
cousin  of  General  Thomas  Maher,  of  the  Irish  Brigade,  and  he  him- 
self was  a  member  of  that  famous  organization  and  greatly  distin- 
guished himself  during  the  war.  They  have  had  ten  children,  of 
whom  nine  are  living. 

In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat  with  strong  silver  ideas, 
while  in  religion  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  a  regular  attendant 
of  St.  James  Church.  Since  his  youth  all  Irish  affairs  have  pos- 
sessed for  him  the  greatest  interest.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
famous  Land  League  Movement,  is  a  member  of  the  Irish  National 
Society,  and  also  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  of  which  he  is 
Past  State  President  and  at  present  President  of  Cook  County. 

He  is  a  man  of  genial  disposition  and  kindly  nature,  who,  by 
the  most  sterling  qualities  of  head  and  heart,  has  earned  the  respect 
and  regard  of  a  very  large  circle  of  friends. 


JAMES  AUSTIN    HOGAN. 


No  work  aiming  to  record  the  worthy  deeds  of  the  American 
Irish  in  Chicago  would  be  complete  were  honorable  mention  want- 
ing of  James  Austin  Hogaii.  He  was  born  in  this  city  on  the 
north  side  December  2d,  1852,  his  parents  being  Martin  and  Mar- 
garet (Wall)  Ilogan,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  County  Tipper- 
ary,  Ireland.  They  had  left  the  old  home  for  the  New  World  in 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  157 

1847,  making  a  short  stay  in  the  City  of  New  York,  and  then  mov- 
ing to  Chicago,  where  Martin  Hogan  assisted  in  the  building  of  the 
Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal  and  later  was  a  boatman  on  it  until 
1877,  in  which  year  he  died,  having  made  hundreds  of  friends  and 
being  very  deeply  regretted.  A  worthy  man  and  a  good  citizen, 
highly  respected  in  the  community,  he  was  at  the  same  time  a 
strong  Irish  patriot,  and  ever  willing  to  do  what  was  in  his  power 
for  the  cause.  His  wife  followed  him  to  the  grave  in  1885. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  parish  schools  of  his 
district  and  later  spent  twelve  months  at  Bryant  &  Stratton's 
Business  College,  where  he  remained  until  he  was  eighteen  years 
of  age.  Then  he  went  to  work  for  his  father  as  steersman  on  the 
canal  boat,  retaining  this  position  for  one  season,  when  he  came 
under  the  notice  of  Mr.  John  W.  McGinniss,  then  secretary  of  the 
Illinois  Stone  Co.,  for  which  concern  Mr.  Hogan  was  at  the  time 
hauling  stone.  Mr.  McGinniss  offered  the  young  man  a  position 
in  his  office  if  he  could  keep  books,  and  the  young  man,  full  of  faith 
in  his  own  abilities,  was  given  charge  of  the  books  of  this  company 
on  August  2d,  1871.  As  the  years  have  passed  on  he  has  from  time 
to  time  received  promotion  and  has  filled  the  positions  of  secre- 
tary, treasurer,  and  finally  that  of  general  manager,  the  responsi- 
ble office  which  he  now  holds.  The  Illinois  Stone  Co.  is  the  old- 
est of  its  kind  in  the  country,  having  been  organized  in  1852,  and 
its  volume  of  business  being  the  next  to  the  largest  of  any  in  this 
city.  The  company's  quarries  are  situated  at  Lemont,  and  the 
chief  business  is  done  in  dimension  and  rubble  stone,  which  have 
been  supplied  for  a  large  number  of  the  prominent  public  and 
private  buildings  of  Chicago. 

Mr.  Hogau  from  his  youth  up  has  taken  a  lively  interest  in 
Republican  politics,  and  has  for  many  years  represented  his  ward 
--the  Sixth — at  all  City,  County,  and  State  Conventions,  having 
been  a  County  Central  Committeeman  since  1888.  In  the  spring 


158  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

of  1895  the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  party  was  shown 
by  his  election  as  South  Town  Collector. 

Mr.  Hogan  is  a  member  of  the  Eoyal  Arcanum,  the  order  of 
United  Workmen,  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters,  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  and  in  all  of  his  lodges  has  filled  every  chair.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Columbus  and  Sheridan  Clubs,  as  well  as 
the  Builders  and  Traders  Exchange;  in  the  latter  he  has  held  the 
Office  of  vice-president,  treasurer,  and  is  at  the  present  president 
and  delegate-at-large. 

In  his  religious  views  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  belongs  to 
the  congregation  of  St.  Bridget's  Church.  Mr.  Hogan  was  married 
to  Frances  L.  Hendry,  a  Buffalo  lady  of  Irish  descent  on  her  moth- 
er's side,  in  November,  1872,  and  they  have  had  five  children,  two 
daughters  and  three  boys.  Both  Mr.  Hogan  and  his  amiable  wife 
are  very  social  in  their  dispositions,  and  are  never  happier  than 
when  dispensing  hospitality  in  their  charming  home  at  2919 
Haines  Street. 

Mr.  Hogan  is  generous  and  liberal  in  all  worthy  matters  of 
charity  which  are  brought  to  his  attention,  and  like  his  father 
before  him,  is  also  at  all  times  a  friend  of  his  kinsmen  across  the 
seas,  and  takes  a  lively  interest  in  all  affairs  affecting  the  land  of 
his  forefathers  or  those  of  Irish  blood  in  this  city. 

Tireless  activity  and  unwavering  energy  are  the  leading  char- 
acteristics of  those  men  who  have  mainly  contributed  to  Chicago's 
present  prominence  among  the  great  cities  of  the  world.  As  a 
rule,  too,  these  founders  of  our  city  have  been  self-made  men,  and 
their  lives  have  served  as  stimulating  influences  to  those  who  have 
followed,  and  in  this  connection  this  brief  sketch  of  the  career  of 
James  Austin  Ilogan,  a  truly  representative  American  Irishman, 
is  full  of  example  and  good  precept. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  159 


P.  H.  RICE. 

Among  the  men  foremost  in  this  city  as  identified  with  Western 
industrial  enterprises,  those  who  have  become  known  far  and  wide 
by  reason  of  the  magnitude  of  their  operations  and  the  vast  extent 
of  their  trade  connections,  none  is  there  whose  personality  is  of  a 
more  interesting  character  or  whose  career  has  been  more  impres- 
sive or  beneficial  as  an  object  lesson  to  the  community  at  large 
than  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  Mr.  P.  H.  Rice,  the  well 
known  arbitrator  of  the  Chicago  Brewers'  Association. 

He  was  born  September  9th,  1847,  in  County  Wexford,  Ireland, 
his  parents  being  William  and  Mary  (Furlong)  Rice.  William  Rice 
belonged  to  a  family  that  had  for  a  long  time  been  famous  in  the 
malting  and  distilling  business  in  Ireland,  and  coming  to  the 
United  States  in  1850,  he  settled  down  at  Belvidere,  111.,  entering 
the  employ  of  Lawrence  Maloney  &  Co.,  who  was  at  that  time 
the  proprietor  of  the  largest  distilling  plant  in  the  country.  Later, 
when  the  plant  was  moved  to  Elgin,  111.,  Mr.  Hice  accompanied  it, 
and  for  many  years  was  one  of  its  most  trusted  and  responsible 
officers.  He  died  in  1886,  and  his  wife,  the  mother  of  P.  II.  Rice, 
followed  him  in  1896. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  public  schools  of  Elgin, 
from  which  he  graduated  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  Employment 
was  then  secured  by  him  in  a  store  at  Elgin,  and  there  he  re- 
mained for  three  years,  when  his  good  sense  recognizing  that  edu- 
cation was  the  key  to  honest  commercial  success  and  that  he  had 
not  been  so  well  supplied  in  that  particular  as  he  ought  to  be,  he 
entered  the  College  of  Notre  Dame,  passing  through  the  commer- 
cial course  and  graduating  at  the  end  of  two  years.  In  1866  Mr. 


160  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

Rice  came  to  Chicago  and  entered  the  employ  of  F.  E.  Kigby,  a 
wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in  paints,  wall  paper,  etc.,  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  salesman  and  manager. 

From  his  early  youth  Mr.  Bice  had  been  around  the  malt  house 
and  distillery  in  which  his  father  was  interested,  and  the  latter 
instructed  his  son  in  the  rudiments  of  the  trade  and  gave  him 
an  opportunity  of  seeing  its  practical  working.  Strict  frugality 
having  enabled  the  young  man  to  save  some  money,  in  1868  he 
purchased  a  malt  house  at  Elgin,  and  in  connection  with  his  father 
operated  the  same.  This  was  really  the  foundation  of  the  business 
which  was  later  to  make  the  name  of  P.  H.  Eice  famous  in  con- 
nection with  the  malting  and  distilling  interests  of  the  West,  an 
industry  the  magnitude  of  which,  in  a  very  large  degree,  is  due 
to  Mr.  Rice's  ability,  energy  and  indefatigability. 

The  first  business  experience  of  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch 
had  an  infelicitous  termination.  Remaining  in  the  employ  of  the 
Mr.  Rigby  before  mentioned  until  immediately  preceding  the  fire, 
he  bought  the  latter's  interest  in  the  business  and  when  that  event 
in  the  history  of  Chicago  happened  he  was  burnt  oat,  losing  $25,- 
000.  This  loss  probably  proved  the  foundation  of  his  fortune.  In 
the  fire  all  the  malt  houses  in  the  city  had  been  destroyed,  and 
Mr.  Rice,  quick  and  resourceful,  saw  the  opportunity  to  make 
money  by  developing  that  industry,  and  quickly  grasped  the  occa- 
sion. During  his  few  years  of  residence  in  Chicago,  he  had  been 
successful  in  establishing  a  good  credit,  and  now  consequently 
he  was  in  a  position  to  borrow  whatever  money  he  needed  to  take 
up  the  malting  business  on  an  extensive  scale. 

The  distillery  at  the  corner  of  Kinzie  and  Seymour  Streets, 
Chicago,  was  purchased  by  him  in  1875,  and  this  he  enlarged  and 
improved  in  many  important  particulars.  As  an  illustration  of 
his  standing  in  the  financial  world  of  this  city,  it  may  be  recorded 
that  during  the  panic  of  1893  his  plant  was  the  only  one  in  the 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  161 

United  States  which  continued  to  run  to  its  full  capacity,  and  in 
regard  to  commercial  rating,  P.  H.  Bice  is  given  as  high  as  any 
individual  in  this  city. 

In  addition  to  other  large  brewing  and  distilling  interests  in 
Chicago,  Mr.  Rice  has  also  established  and  is  at  present  operating 
the  largest  malting  plant  in  the  world.  This  is  at  West  Chicago 
on  the  Belt  Line  and  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad, 
its  capacity  being  two  million  bushels  per  annum.  Recently,  in 
association  with  his  brother,  T.  J.  Rice,  he  purchased  the  plant 
of  the  Star  Brewery,  which  they  have  thoroughly  reconstructed 
and  enlarged  until  it  has  become  the  model  brewery  of  Chicago 
and  with  a  capacity  of  three  hundred  thousand  barrels  per  annum 
both  in  storage  and  refrigeration.  The  product,  too,  is  noted  both 
for  its  purity  and  for  its  health  restoring  qualities,  and  the  malt 
extracts  are  famous  throughout  the  world. 

Mr.  Rice  is  a  director  of  the  Fort  Dearborn  National  Bank,  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  and  one  of  the  largest 
grain  buyers  in  his  line  on  the  floor.  The  reputation  in  which  he 
is  held  among  his  business  associates  was  evidenced  in  his  choice 
as  arbitrator  for  the  Chicago  Brewers'  Association.  He  is  the 
owner  of  large  cattle  interests  in  the  West,  and  also  of  consid- 
erable and  very  valuable  city  property,  and  in  speaking  of  the 
latter  it  is  said  he  possesses  such  a  predilection  for  corner  prop- 
erties that  he  now  possesses  more  improved  street  corners  in  Chi- 
cago than  any  other  individual.  He  was  also  one  of  the  organ- 
izers and  the  first  president  of  the  Lake  Street  L,  which  he  brought 
men  from  New  York  to  develop. 

Mr.  Rice  was  united  in  marriage  in  1878  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Walsh, 
the  daughter  of  a  prominent  North  Side  citizen  and  furniture  man- 
ufacturer, and  they  have  a  family  of  five  boys  and  one  girl.  The 
eldest  son,  William  P.,  has  already  developed  a  remarkable  apt- 
ness in  the  line  of  electricity,  and  when  only  twelve  years  of  age 


162  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 

made  his  own  batteries  and  wired  Mr.  Rice's  house  with  electric 
wires.  The  boy's  disposition,  however,  was  too  studious  for  the 
good  of  his  health,  and  his  father  therefore  thought  it  advisable 
to  remove  him  from  school  and  place  him  at  the  military  academy 
at  Orchard  Lake,  Mich.,  so  that  he  might  be  given  better  oppor- 
tunities to  develop  physically.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice  have  traveled 
extensively  throughout  the  United  States,  aud  are  both  of  the  im- 
pression that  one's  own  country  should  be  known  thoroughly  be- 
fore any  thought  given  to  foreign  travel.  Mr.  Rice  is  a  devout 
Roman  Catholic  and  is  a  member  of  the  congregation  of  St.  James 
Church.  Formerly  he  was  one  of  the  strongest  pillars  of  St.  Mal- 
achy's  Parish,  and  by  his  financial  aid  and  endorsement  greatly 
assisted  the  Rev.  Thomas  P.  Hoclnett  in  the  erection  of  his  present 
handsome  church.  While  his  leisure  moments  are  few  and  far 
between,  yet  still  he  finds  time  to  attend  the  meetings  of,  and  is 
an  old  and  valued  member  of  the  Sheridan,  the  Columbus  and 
the  Commercial  Clubs.  Public  spirited  and  benevolent,  he  has  at 
all  times  shown  himself  a  practical  sympathizer  with  the  charita- 
ble work  of  Chicago,  as  well  as  being  ready  at  all  times  to  assist 
with  his  purse  and  influence  his  kinsmen  across  the  seas.  He  was 
one  of  the  original  subscribers  to  the  Catholic  colonization  scheme, 
formulated  by  Bishop  O'Connor  of  Omaha,  Archbishop  Ireland, 
and  a  number  of  leading  Catholic  laymen,  and  was  also  mainly 
instrumental  in  the  locating  of  Feehanville,  for  which  he  secured 
the  site  and  gave  four  years  to  superintending  its  building  up 
and  placing  the  town  on  a  sound  financial  footing.  When  the 
terrible  Johnstown,  Pa.,  disaster  roused  the  whole  United  States 
to  pity,  his  feelings  found  a  substantial  outcome,  for  he  quickly 
had  a  train  load  of  flour  dispatched  to  the  scene. 

Up  to  the  last  presidential  campaign,  Mr.  Rice  had  been  an 
unflinching  Democrat,  but,  as  he  expresses  it,  "At  the  last  elec- 
tion all  good  business  men  knew  upon  which  side  their  bread  was 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  163 

buttered,  and  cast  their  votes  for  sound  money."  His  political 
sagacity  was  evinced  by  his  prophecy  regarding  the  secretaryship 
of  the  United  States  treasury,  for  on  the  day  following  the  elec- 
tion he  informed  Mr.  Lyman  J.  Gage  in  a  conversation,  that  he 
felt  convinced  that  the  position  would  be  offered  to  him.  He  now 
proudly  calls  himself  the  "Original  Gage  man." 

Mr.  Rice  has  a  beautiful  and  luxurious  home  at  3312  Wabash 
Avenue,  where  he  and  his  charming  wife  are  happiest  when  enter- 
taining their  many  friends.  The  personal  appearance  and  char- 
acteristics of  Mr.  Rice  are  such  as  one  would  expect  to  prove  suc- 
cessful in  the  battle  of  life.  His  clear  cut  features,  his  speaking 
eyes,  his  nervous  energy  and  quick  grasp  of  affairs  are  typical  of 
that  Western  enterprise  that  has  made  Chicago  the  great  metrop- 
olis it  is  to-day.  Pleasing  in  his  address,  courteous  and  kindly  in 
his  disposition,  the  possessor  of  an  immense  fund  of  humor  and 
an  abundance  of  genial  good  nature,  he  is  a  charming  companion, 
and  his  sturdy  honesty  and  fidelity  to  his  principles  make  him  at 
the  same  time  an  ideal  friend. 

This  record  of  a  career  that  has  been  so  strong  and  forceful, 
so  active  and  honorable,  is  necessarily  brief,  but  it  is  full  of  useful 
lesson  and  strong  in  incentive.  By  his  own  energy  and  labor  Mr. 
Rice  has  succeeded  in  achieving  a  high  position,  and  what  he  has 
accomplished  is  due  entirely  to  his  ambitious  nature,  his  patient 
endeavor,  and  his  unwearying  application.  Systematic  methods, 
prompt  and  decisive  action  under  all  circumstances,  good  judg- 
ment and  tact  united  to  a  high  sense  of  honesty,  and  an  absolute 
fidelity  in  every  undertaking  have,  when  in  such  combination', 
placed  Mr.  Rice  in  his  present  position  and  given  him  a  reputation 
of  which  any  man  might  be  proud,  the  distinction  of  being  a  truly 
worthy  citizen  and  a  thoroughly  representative  Chicagoan. 


164  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 


PATRICK   J.  CAHILL. 

A  truly  representative  American  Irish  Chicagoan  is  the  sub- 
ject of  the  present  sketch.  Modest  and  unassuming,  courteous, 
genial,  kindly  and  generous,  but  withal  a  man  absolutely  fearless 
in  the  discharge  of  the  responsible  duties  entrusted  to  him  or  in 
the  carrying  out  of  whatsoever  he  may  consider  to  be  the  right, 
Mr.  Patrick  J.  Cahill  is  one  of  whom  even  casual  acquaintances 
always  speak  in  terms  of  esteem  and  regard,  and  his  friends 
with  very  manifest  affection. 

Born  in  Ireland  in  1843,  he  was  brought  to  this  country  three 
years  later  by  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Springfield,  111.  Haying 
received  an  ordinary  education,  he  was  at  fourteen  years  of  age 
bound  apprentice  to  the  printer's  trade,  and  in  1860  he  came  to 
Chicago  and  found  employment  on  the  Chicago  Tribune  until  1878. 
In  the  latter  year,  on  the  recommendation  of  the  Hon.  Joseph 
Medill,  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Sheriff,  and  four  years  later  was 
promoted  to  be  Deputy  in  charge  of  the  civil  courts,  a  position  in 
which  he  still  remains.  His  post  is  one  of  great  responsibility,  for 
under  his  charge  the  sixty  deputies  in  the  courts  of  the  county 
carry  out  their  duties. 

Previous  to  the  assembling  of  the  Republican  National  Nom- 
inating Conventions  of  1880-84  and  1888  the  sheriff  of  this  county 
was  requested  to  detail  a  large  force  of  deputies  to  assist  in  pre- 
serving order.  That  official  detailed  one  hundred  officers  and  in- 
structed P.  J.  Cahill  to  take  charge  of  them.  Mr.  Cahill  assumed 
personal  charge  of  the  press  arrangements  in  the  Republican  Na- 
tional Convention  in  1888.  He  received  unstinted  praise  from 
newspaper  correspondents  for  the  manner  in  which  he  performed 
the  duties  assigned  to  him.  One  of  the  Eastern  newspapers,  com- 


rp  (i 

u-V- 


\ 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  167 

meriting  on  the  work  of  the  Convention,  published  this  item:  "If 
the  newspaper  correspondents  had  their  way,  P.  J.  Cahill  would  be 
elected  President  of  the  United  States,  for  he  was  the  one  man 
that  looked  after  their  comforts."  At  the  execution  of  the  an- 
arr-hists,  November  12,  1887,  Sheriff  Matson  put  the  entire  force 
of  deputies  in  charge  of  Deputy  Sheriff  Cahill,  and  instructed  that 
official  to  make  all  the  necessary  arrangements  for  the  execution. 
Joe  Howard,  special  correspondent  of  the  New  York  World,  says 
of  Cahill:  "He  was  the  man  for  the  place;  with  rare  tact  and 
judgment  he  attended  to  every  detail  and  left  nothing  undone." 
The  Chicago  Tribune,  in  writing  of  his  work,  says  of  him:  "He 
is  a  man  of  fine  executive  abilities,  and  in  the  handling  of  large 
numbers  of  men  he  brings  those  talents  into  full  play." 

In  all  the  large  land  league  meetings  that  were  held  in  this 
city  Mr.  Cahill  was  assigned  to  take  charge  of  the  halls  and  to 
manage  the  necessary  details. 

Mr.  Cahill  has  been  prominent  in  all  matters  affecting  the  good 
of  his  native  land,  and  most  generous  in  his  contributions  towards 
every  fund  started  in  its  aid.  He  is  a  member  of  several  Irish 
societies  and  also  of  a  number  of  fraternal  organizations,  but  is 
particularly  prominent  in  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  of  which 
indeed,  with  the  Hon.  John  F.  Scanlan  and  others,  he  was  in  this 
city  one  of  the  founders.  This  was  in  the  summer  of  1883,  and 
late  in  the  fall  of  1884  Mr.  Cahill  was  elected  Chief  Ranger  of  the 
Western  Reserve  Court  No.  19,  and  held  the  office  for  two  years  and 
a  half.  January  30th,  1886,  he  became  a  member  of  the  High 
Court  Board  of  Directors,  on  which  he  remained  until  June,  1892, 
being  for  the  whole  of  that  period  a  member  of  the  finance  com- 
mittee, and  for  the  greater  portion  of  the  time  the  chairman.  In 
the  organization  of  that  Order's  great  parades  Mr.  Cahill  has  at 
all  times  taken  a  foremost  position,  and  on  its  leading  occasions 
has  been  Grand  Marshal,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  the 

9 


168  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

funeral  of  the  late  Dr.  Oonin,  who  for  a  considerable  period  had 
been  a  member  of  the  High  Court  Board  of  Trustees;  and  in  the 
great  civic  demonstration  commemorating  the  four  hundredth  an- 
niversary of  the  discovery  of  America.  In  the  last  named,  Mr. 
Cahill  was  selected  chairman  of  the  executive  committee  and  rep- 
seutatives  of  the  various  Catholic  organizations  met  together  on 
the  first  Sunday  in  September,  1892,  and  elected  him  Grand  Mar- 
shal of  the  Catholic  Grand  Division,  thirty  thousand  persons  being 
assigned  a  place  under  his  command.  At  the  conclusion  of  the 
demonstration,  General  Stockton,  on  behalf  of  the  directors  of  the 
Columbian  Exhibition,  presented  Mr.  Cahill  with  a  handsome 
badge  in  testimony  of  his  services.  When  the  Eighth  Annual  Ses- 
sion was  held  in  Milwaukee  he  was  the  unanimous  choice  for  re- 
election to  the  office  of  High  Chief  Hanger.  He  also  took  an  active 
part  in  the  establishment  of  the  "Catholic  Home,"  and  held  consid- 
erable stock  in  the  corporation  when  it  was  the  organ  of  the  Cath- 
olic Order  of  Foresters.  For  services  furthering  the  advancement 
of  that  Order,  he  was  the  recipient  at  the  Eleventh  Annual  Ses- 
sion of  a  very  handsome  suitably  inscribed  wratch  and  chain,  a  tes- 
timonial ordered  by  the  Ninth  Annual  Session  at  the  close  of  his 
term  of  office,  and  towards  which  his  personal  friends  had  united 
in  raising  several  hundred  dollars. 


DANIEL  DELANEY. 


Daniel  Delaney,  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  popular  Irish 
Americans  in  the  City  of  Chicago,  was  born  on  Christmas  Day, 
1833,  in  the  parish  of  Upperwoods,  Queens  County,  Ireland.  His 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN   CHICAGO.  169 

| 

father,  Dennis  Delaney,  a  native  of  the  same  place,  was  by  occupa- 
tion a  farmer.  He  died  in  that  parish  August  19th,  1848,  at  the  age 
of  forty-six,  as  also  his  wife,  formerly  Mary  Vanston,  who  died 
about  1881.  They  had  eight  children,  of  whom  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  the  eldest. 

Daniel  Delauey  obtained  his  education  in  the  national  schools 
of  Ireland  until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  when,  his  father 
dying,  he  went  to  work  on  the  farm  until  1851,  when  an  uncle  of 
his  starting  for  America,  the  young  man,  determined  to  try  his 
fortunes  at  the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic,  accompanied  him.  Lo- 
cating in  Cincinnati,  he  found  employment  as  a  clerk  with  a  whole- 
sale liquor  firm  until  March,  18G4,  when  he  came  to  Chicago.  His 
first  work  in  this  city  was  with  Messrs.  McQuaid  &  Smith,  and  he 
continued  with  that  firm  until  1866,  when  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  James  Walsh.  This  lasted,  however,  but  a  short  time, 
and  three  months  later  he  found  employment  with  Cleary  &  En- 
right,  with  whom  he  remained  until  1871.  He  next  went  to  Keeley 
&  Kerwin,  until  1879,  when  he  started  in  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count, taking  premises  on  Market  Street,  near  Randolph,  and  later 
removed  to  Kinzie  Street.  Here  he  continued  until  1888,  in  which 
year  he  formed  a  partnership  with  M.  W.  Murphy,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Delaney  &  Murphy.  The  business  of  the  firm,  transacted 
with  every  attention  to  detail  and  with  due  consideration  to  the 
comforts  and  requirements  of  its  clients,  has  prospered  exceedingly, 
and  now  twenty-five  men  are  employed,  of  whom  nine  are  in  con- 
stant work,  covering  the  States  of  Illinois,  Indiana,  Michigan  and 
and  Minnestoa,  and  also  with  considerable  trade  all  over  the  North- 
west territory. 

Mr.  Delaney  was  married,  July  21st,  1858,  to  Kate  Quinn,  a  na- 
tive of  New  York  State.  They  have  eight  children,  of  whom  Kate 
is  married  to  M.  J.  Shinnars,  of  Chicago;  Mary,  to  H.  G.  Clark,  of 
Chicago;  Dennis  is  farming  in  Dupage  County;  Joseph,  in  the  em- 


170  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

ploy  of  his  uncle  in  South  Chicago;  Annie,  the  wife  of  E.  J.  Hayes, 
of  Chicago;  William,  employed  as  salesman  with  Delaney  &  Mur- 
phy, and  Vesta  and  Henry,  who  are  still  at  school. 

Mr.  Delaney  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  Church.  He  belongs  to  the  sodality  of  the  Jesuit 
Church,  and  is  the  oldest  member  now  in  this  country.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Columbus  Club. 


JAMES  JOSEPH  KELLY. 


Ja,mes  Joseph  Kelly,  one  of  the  leading  coal  merchants  of  the 
City  of  Chicago,  was  born  March  23d,  1856,  in  St.  John's,  New- 
foundland. Of  his  parents,  Michael  J.  and  Mary  (Dwyer)  Kelly, 
the  father  was  a  native  of  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  who  came  to  New- 
foundland in  1846  and  took  up  the  business  of  outfitting  ships 
engaged  in  the  whaling  and  sealing  trade.  He  resided  at  the  latter 
place  until  1869,  when  he  moved  to  Chicago,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death — in  1882 — was  a  man  who  had  won  the  entire  respect  of 
all  who  knew  him.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  St  John's,  Newfound- 
land, and  was  the  daughter  of  John  Dwyer,  who  was  a  very  promi- 
nent farmer  of  that  section  of  the  country. 

James  Joseph  Kelly  attended  school  in  St.  John's  until  he  was 
twelve  years  old,  when  with  his  parents  he  removed  to  Chicago, 
and  soon  after  his  arrival  secured  a  position  with  the  dry  goods 
house  of  Ross  &  Gossage,  with  whom  he  remained  one  year,  leav- 
ing to  enter  the  employ  of  the  Rockford,  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis 
Railroad  as  clerk  in  their  general  office.  With  this  company  his 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  173 

stay  was  also  of  short  duration,  for  twelve  months  after  he  retired 
to  go  into  the  coal  business,  in  which  he  was  to  achieve  at  once 
success  and  fortune. 

The  employ  of  the  Star  Coal  Company  of  Chicago  was  entered 
as  clerk  in  1871,  and  here  he  remained  until  1877,  in  that  time 
obtaining  a  very  good  insight  into  the  business.  His  next  employ- 
ment was  with  the  coal  firm  of  Beard,  Hickox  &  Company,  in 
which  he  held  the  position  of  manager.  This  in  1882  he  resigned 
to  accept  the  responsible  position  of  traveling  sales-agent  for  the 
Northwest  for  the  Consolidated  Coal  Company  of  St.  Louis,  with 
headquarters  in  Chicago. 

Thoroughly  satisfied  in  1884  that  he  was  fully  acquainted  with 
every  necessary  detail  of  the  coal  trade,  and  as  by  habitual  fru- 
gality he  had  managed  to  save  some  money  and  had  a  reputation 
in  the  trade  absolutely  beyond  reproach,  he  determined  to  start 
in  business  for  himself.  Remarkable  success  followed  his  efforts, 
and  in  1888  the  J.  J.  Kelly  Coal  Company  was  organized,  of  which 
lie  was  elected  and  still  is  the  president  and  general  manager. 
A  large  general  business  is  done  in  the  wholesaling  and  retailing 
of  coal,  and  the  company  also  controls  the  output  of  several  large 
mines  in  Illinois  and  Ohio,  and  at  the  same  time  is  general  North- 
west sales-agent  for  the  Taylorville  Coal  Company  of  Taylorville,  111. 

Though  the  heavy  duties  of  his  position  give  him  but  few  spare 
moments,  Mr.  Kelly  still  finds  time  to  belong  to  a  number  of 
clubs.  He  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Sheridan  and  Columbus 
Clubs,  and  is  also  attached  to  the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  the 
Royal  Arcanum.  He  has  traveled  extensively.  In  religious  mat- 
ters Mr.  Kelly  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a  member  of  the  congrega- 
tion of  St.  Bernard's  Church,  at  Englewood,  while  in  political  mat- 
ters he  has  always  been  a  Democrat. 

Mr.  Kelly  was  united  in  marriage  in  1880  to  Emily  G.  Doyle, 
of  Chicago.  They  have  had  six  children,  of  whom,  however,  there 


174  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

are  but  four  living.  At  their  beautiful  home  on  Sixty-seventh 
Street  his  charming  wife  and  himself  delight  to  dispense  hospi- 
tality with  a  lavish  hand. 

This  brief  record  tells  but  imperfectly  the  history  of  one  of 
the  most  popular  and  best  known  coal  men  in  the  West.  Mr. 
James  J.  Kelly,  by  his  untiring  energy  and  natural  abilities,  by 
throwing  into  whatever  he  undertook  his  own  individuality,  has 
been  successful  in  building  up  a  most  prosperous  and  successful 
business.  In  twenty-five  years  of  a  commercial  career,  he  has 
never  made  an  enemy,  and  to  his  hundreds  of  friends  is  always 
affectionately  spoken  of  as  "Jim  Kelly." 


JOHN   DOMINICK  CASEY. 


John  Dominick  Casey,  lawyer,  was  born  in  Chicago,  August 
4th,  1864.  Tie  was  the  son  of  Thomas  P.  Casey,  who  left  his  native 
Oalway,  Ireland,  and  settled  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  in  1840.  A 
move  was  made  to  Chicago  in  1852,  and  here  he  worked  at  his  trade 
—that  of  a  carpenter — until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion, 
when  he  enlisted  as  a  soldier  and  served  to  the  end  of  the  war. 

Thomas  P.  Casey  returned  to  Chicago  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  having  married  Catherine  Bern,  a  native  of  County  Roscom- 
mon,  engaged  in  the  business  of  a  building  contractor.  The  Stett- 
hauer  Block,  at  the  corner  of  Franklin  and  Madison  Streets — one 
of  the  notable  buildings  following  Chicago's  great  fire — was  erect- 
ed by  him.  His  death  took  place  in  1895. 

John  D.  Casey  acquired  his  education  at  the  Christian  Broth- 
ers' School  on  Morgan  Street  and  at  the  Harrison  Street  public 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  175 

school,  later  taking  a  commercial  course  of  three  years  at  the  St. 
Ignatius  College.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  Co.,  as  book-keeper 
in  the  cashier's  department,  remaining  there  for  five  years.  Then, 
having  resigned,  he  began  to  study  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Thomas  E.  Whiteside.  Here  he  remained  one  year  and  left  to  take 
a  two  years'  course  in  the  Union  College  of  Law,  from  which  he 
graduated  and  secured  a  license  to  practice.  Immediately  he  en- 
tered the  law  office  of  Murphy  &  Cummings,  where  he  remained 
two  years,  studying  hard  and  gaining  much  good  experience  in 
general  practice.  December,  1895,  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
John  W.  Bantz,  a  lawyer  of  twenty-five  years'  standing  in  Fulton 
County,  111.,  and  together  they  opened  their  present  office  in  the 
Stock  Exchange  Building,  under  the  firm  name  of  Bantz  &  Casey. 

Mr.  Casey  has  a  large  general  practice,  representing  in  the 
capacity  of  attorney  a  number  of  big  corporations,  and  having  in 
1897  had  his  abilities  further  recognized  by  his  appointment  as 
Master  in  Chancery.  He  also  acts  as  private  attorney  for  Con- 
gressman Hon.  William  Lorimer.  In  political  matters  he  has 
always  taken  the  liveliest  interest,  and  believes  that  such  is  the 
duty  of  all  good  citizens.  He  is  one  of  the  most  active  members 
of  the  Nineteenth  Ward — that  in  which  he  was  born;  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  last  State  Convention  at  Springfield,  and  can  always 
be  relied  upon  to  speak  whenever  his  services  are  required. 

Mr.  Casey  assisted,  in  1894,  to  organize  the  Women's  Catholic 
Order  of  Foresters,  and  this  Order — for  which  he  is  attorney — has 
now  a  membership  list  of  over  eight  thousand.  He  is  also  a  warm 
advocate  of  the  Hull  House,  for  which  he  organized,  and  was  for 
two  years  the  president  of  the  Young  Men's  Club,  and  was  instru- 
mental in  procuring  for  it  a  fine  library  and  gymnasium,  and  in 
otherwise  bringing  it  to  its  present  flourishing  condition. 

In  his  religious  views  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a  member  of 


176  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 

the  congregation  of  the  Jesuit  Church.  Yet  a  young  man,  by  his 
energy  and  superior  abilities  Mr.  Casey  has  succeeded  in  pushing 
himself  forward  in  the  world,  and  his  genial  and  thoroughly  cour- 
teous manner  has  made  of  every  client  a  friend. 


JOHN   CUDAHY. 

If  to  be  the  founder  of  one's  own  fortune,  to  face  seemingly 
insuperable  difficulties,  and  by  untiring  perseverance  make  a 
name  known  and  respected  all  over  the  civilized  world,  be  tc  hold 
an  honored  record,  then  indeed  John  Cudahy  and  his  brother, 
Michael  (whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume),  are  well 
worthy  of  a  proud  place  in  the  roll  of  Irish  Americans  who  have 
helped  to  make  Chicago  the  grand  city  it  is  to-day. 

With  Chicago's  wonderful  growth  the  fortunes  of  the  Cudahy 
brothers  have  proportionately  advanced,  and  now  they  are  num- 
bered among  the  millionaires  of  this  great  city,  and  with  pardon- 
able pride  can  point  back  to  their  careers  of  honest  work,  noble 
endeavor,  and  grand  achievement. 

Callan,  County  Limerick,  Ireland,  was  the  birthplace  of  John 
Cudahy,  as  well  as  of  his  brother  Michael.  He  was  born  Novem- 
ber 2d,  1843,  the  son  of  Patrick  and  Elizabeth  (Shaw)  Cudahy.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Callan,  while  his  mother's  people  were  orig- 
inally from  Dublin,  and  removing  to  Callan,  established  there  pot- 
tery works.  His  parents,  recognizing  the  difficulties  of  bringing 
up  and  giving  fair  opportunity  to  a  young  family  in  Ireland,  de- 
cided to  seek  the  broader  opportunities  of  the  boundless  West,  and 
started  for  the  United  States  in  1849.  A  short  stay  was  made  in 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  179 

the  East  and  then  the  family  removed  to  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  in  the 
public  schools  of  which  city,  working  occasionally  between  times, 
young  Cudahy  received  his  education.  He  was  between  fourteen 
and  fifteen  years  of  age  when  a  place  was  found  for  him  in  the 
packing  house  of  Ed  Roddis,  in  whose  employ  he  remained  until 
about  nineteen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  work  for  John  Plank- 
inton  (afterwards  Plankinton  &  Armour),  remaining  in  this  posi- 
tion for  one  and  one-half  years. 

When  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  went  into  the  nursery  busi- 
ness as  foreman  with  Mr.  Thomas  Grynne,  of  Milwaukee,  dealing 
in  fruit  and  ornamental  trees,  etc.,  and  remained  there  three 
years.  At  the  end  of  this  time  he  made  a  proposition  to  purchase 
the  properties  under  terms,  the  acceptance  of  which  gives  ample 
evidence  of  the  high  estimation  in  which  he  was  held,  not  only  by 
his  former  employer  but  by  his  neighbors  in  general,  while  at  the 
same  time  it  well  illustrates  his  own  self-reliance  and  confidence 
in  his  success.  The  nursery,  its  stock,  wagons,  horses,  etc.,  he  was 
able  to  secure  by  paying  a  small  sum  down,  and  after  continuing 
the  business  for  three  years  was  in  a  position  to  clear  off  the  whole 
indebtedness  and  in  addition  made  considerable  money.  This,  his 
first  successful  business  effort,  gave  him  further  confidence,  and 
with  varying  fortune,  but  with  success  far  overbalancing  the  fail- 
ures, his  career  has  continued. 

lie  decided  to  return  to  the  packing  business,  and  was  given 
employment  by  Layton  &  Co.,  packers,  for  the  three  following 
years.  His  attention  to  his  employers'  interests  produced  ties  of 
friendship  which  time  has  only  further  strengthened,  and  Mr. 
Cudahy  is  at  all  times  ready  to  express  his  grateful  appreciation 
of  the  kindness  shown  him  by  Mr.  Layton.  While  employed  by 
that  firm  he  was  appointed  Board  of  Trade  Provision  Inspector 
for  the  City  of  Milwaukee,  and  afterwards  was  foreman  and  Board 
of  Trade  Inspector  for  Van  Kirk  &  McGeough,  occupying  the  joint 


180  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF   THE 

positions  for  over  two  years.  In  the  spring  of  1875  he  had  saved 
sufficient  money  to  purchase  an  interest  in  John  Plankinton's  pack- 
ing- business,  but  later,  deciding  he  needed  greater  scope,  and 
through  the  intercession  of  his  brother  Michael,  between  whom 
and  Mr.  Plankinton  there  has  always  existed  strong  ties  of  friend- 
ship, he  obtained  a  release  from  the  contract  and  in  July  of  the 
same  year  removed  to  Chicago,  at  once  going  into  partnership  with 
E.  D.  Chapin,  under  the  firm  name  of  Chapin  &  Co.,  packers,  which 
it  remained  for  two  years,  when  the  name  was  changed  to  Chapin 
&  Cudahy.  The  partnership  continued  altogether  about  five  years, 
when  Mr.  Chapin  withdrew,  and  since  that  time  Mr.  Cudahy  has 
continued  the  Chicago  business  alone,  but  is  also  in  partnership 
with  his  brother  Patrick,  forming  the  firm  of  Cudahy  Bros.,  pack- 
el's,  Milwaukee,  who  became  successors  to  the  business  of  John 
Plankinton,  who  retired. 

Possessing  a  host  of  friends  amongst  the  most  prominent  of 
Chicago's  citizens,  and  many  respectful  admirers  amongst  the 
poorer  classes,  to  whom  he  is  ever  a  ready  and  willing  friend,  that 
which  has  been  said  of  him  by  one  of  Chicago's  most  prominent 
citizens  brings  the  man  clearly  before  us: 

"Quick  and  shrewd  to  detect  a  fraud  or  sham,  he  is  prompt  and 
outspoken  in  his  condemnation;  yet  he  is  always  genuine,  sincere 
and  thoughtful  of  his  friends.  As  a  business  man  he  is  bright  and 
clear  in  judgment,  quick  in  his  perception,  prompt  and  unhesi- 
tating in  action.  The  fact  of  his  having  accumulated  so  handsome 
if  not  so  vast  a  fortune,  and  while  yet  in  the  prime  of  life,  is  ample 
evidence  of  the  correctness  of  his  general  business  methods  and 
characteristics.  At  his  home,  where  the  furnishings  and  appoint- 
ments are  luxurious  and  betoken  much  taste  and  mature  judgment, 
his  wife  presides  and  aids  her  husband  in  dispensing  a  hospitality, 
open-hearted  and  whole-souled  on  his  part,  and  truly  graceful  and 
generous  on  hers." 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  181 

Mr.  Cudahy  has  been  twice  married — October  1st,  1873,  to  Miss 
Mary  Nolin,  of  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  the  issue  of  this  marriage  being 
four  girls,  two  of  whom  are  deceased. 

LTe  afterwards  married  Miss  Margaret  F.  O'Neill,  daughter  of 
Mr.  John  O'Neill,  a  prominent  citizen  and  one  of  Chicago's  oldest 
settlers,  who  died  some  years  ago.  Of  this  marriage  two  children 
have  been  the  issue,  only  one  of  whom,  John  JR.,  is  living. 

Prominent  in  social  affairs,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Washington, 
the  Union  League,  and  the  Chicago  Clubs. 

He  contributes  largely  to  all  public  enterprises  for  the  im- 
provement and  advancement  of  the  city  and  the  community  at 
large,  and  than  his  wife's  and  his  own  list  of  charities,  probably 
no  private  individual  in  the  City  of  Chicago  can  show  more  frequent 
or  more  generous  contributions,  whether  it  be  to  the  advancement 
of  religion,  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor,  or  for  the  thousand  and  one 
charitable  enterprises  which  are  fostered  by  the  church  of  which 
he  is  a  member.  But  neither  his  generosity  nor  his  charity  is  by 
any  means  confined  to  those  of  his  own  faith,  for  every  good  and 
commendable  effort  to  aid  the  needing  finds  in  him  generous  sup- 
port and  good  practical  sympathy. 

He  has  a  summer  home  on  Mackinac  Island,  which  is  beauti- 
fully situated,  and,  like  his  home  in  the  city,  a  center  of  hospi- 
tality for  all  friends  who  may  happen  to  be  on  the  island  during 
the  season. 

In  personal  "appearance  the  Cudahy  brothers  are  all  splendid 
specimens  of  physical  manhood,  large,  well-proportioned,  hand- 
some men,  and  to  the  family  rule  John  Cudahy  is  no  exception.  A 
typical  Irishman  of  the  better  class,  he  is  a  valuable  citizen  of  this 
city  and  State,  a  useful  ani  influential  member  of  society,  a  man 
who  is  esteemed  and  respected  not  only  by  a  large  circle  of  friends, 
but  by  the  community  at  large,  a  pride  to  his  native  land,  and  an 
honor  to  his  chosen  country. 


182  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF   THE 


DANIEL   P.   CAHILL. 


Secretary  Daniel  P.  Cahill,  of  the  Chicago  postoffice,  was  born 
in  "K"  Square,  Curragh  Camp,  Kildare,  Ireland,  January  27th, 
18G3.  His  father,  Daniel  Cahill,  was  an  official  of  forty  years'  con- 
tinuous service  in  the  civil  and  military  establishments  of  the 
British  Empire.  When  a  boy  he  had  run  away  from  home  and 
enlisted  in  H.  M.  Eighty-sixth  Kegiment,  then  stationed  at  Dublin. 
He  served  through  the  Chartist  Insurrection  in  England  and  took 
part  in  the  many  battles  that  followed  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Indian  mutiny.  Like  William  Cobbett,  he  educated  himself  on  the 
drum  head  and  acquired  an  excellent  knowledge  of  the  Hindus- 
tanee  dialects.  He  rose  to  be  Color  Sergeant  of  his  company  and 
was  a  friend  and  associate  of  the  celebrated  Captain  Butler,  who 
was  killed  by  the  Russians  at  the  first  siege  of  Kars. 

The  mother  of  Secretary  Cahill  is  a  native  of  Lancashire,  Eng- 
land, and  is  descended  from  the  Brutons  of  Tipperary,  Ireland,  who 
for  two  hundred  years  held  the  office  of  steward  to  the  Barons  of 
Pennefeather.  The  original  Bruton  was  a  Somersetshire  farmer, 
who  served  in  the  army  of  Oliver  Cromwell  and  was  rewarded  for 
his  services  by  a  grant  of  land  in  Tipperary.  The  tradition  has  it 
that  Major  Bruton's  intercourse  with  his  Irish  neighbors  was  more 
friendly  than  usual  on  account  of  the  part  he  had  taken  in  pre- 
venting the  sack  of  a  convent  by  the  Cromwellian  soldiery.  What- 
ever Anglo-Saxon  blood  there  may  have  been  in  the  veins  of  the 
Brutons,  the  Cahills  certainly  had  none.  The  name  is  of  Celtic 
origin  and  was  originally  spelled  "Cahal,"  or  "Cathail." 

One  of  Mangan's  poems  recites  the  doings  of  a  certain  Cahal- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  183 

Mor  of  the  Wine  Red  Hand,  who  had  a  Dolphin  for  a  crest  and  who 
was  descended  from  a  Formorian  fisherman. 

After  the  Treaty  of  Limerick  the  ancestor  of  all  the  Cahills  of 
the  King's  and  Queen's  Counties  betook  himself  with  as  little  noise 
as  possible  to  the  Queen's  County,  where  he  came  to  be  called  "Old 
John  Cahill  of  Coolnabaca."  He  was  a  sturdy  veteran  of  the  Civil 
Wars,  whom  much  fighting  had  made  conservative,  and  that  he 
transmitted  this  tendency  to  his  descendants  is  shown  by  the  fact, 
that  during  the  stormy  eighteenth  century  the  family  managed  to 
retain  unimpaired  its  religion  and  lands.  In  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury, however,  this  inherited  conservativeness  disappeared  and 
the  Reverend  Doctor  Cahill  arose  to  take  an  active  part  in  the 
battle  which  Ireland  waged  for  civil  and  religious  liberty. 

Next  to  the  "great  Doctor,"  as  his  countrymen  used  to  call  him, 
the  most  distinguished  man  of  the  family  was  the  Reverend  Doc- 
tor William  Cahill,  Vicar-General  of  Kildare  and  Leighlin.  The 
excitement  of  war  had  a  fascination  for  those  Cahills  whose  tend- 
encies were  not  religious.  The  story  is  told  of  three  sons  of  Ed- 
ward Cahill  of  Stradbally,  who  ran  off  secretly  and  joined  the  Bo- 
livian army  of  Independence  and  were  never  heard  of  more.  An- 
other brother  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  the  30's  and  sacri- 
ficed a  son  to  the  cause  of  the  Union  at  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run. 

Secretary  Cahill  spent  the  first  twelve  years  of  his  life  in  the 
British  Army  and  received  his  early  education  in  the  National  and 
Military  Schools  of  Dublin.  In  1875,  the  elder  Cahill  perceiving 
no  future  for  his  family  in  Ireland,  resigned  his  position  in  the 
Barrack  Department  and  emigrated  to  Canada,  settling  in  Toronto 
in  1876.  His  son,  Daniel  P.  Cahill,  after  a  coiirse  at  the  Collegiate 
Institute  of  that  city,  became  interested  in  a  manufacturing  in- 
dustry. 

When  hardly  of  age,  he  assisted  in  organizing  the  first  branch 
of  the  Land  League  ever  formed  in  Canada,  and  was  successively 


184  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

Secretary  and  President  of  one  of  the  Toronto  branches  of  the 
League.  He  came  into  rather  unfriendly  contact  with  the  Loyal- 
ist authorities  of  Toronto  by  reason  of  a  very  clear  and  decisive 
letter  which  he  wrote  to  the  Mayor,  declining  an  invitation  tend- 
ered to  the  League  to  take  part  in  a  procession  in  honor  of  Queen 
Victoria's  Jubilee.  Mutual  good  will  was  not  strengthened  by  Mr. 
Cahill's  connection  with  the  reception  of  William  O'Brien,  M.  P., 
on  the  occasion  of  his  visit  to  Toronto  in  1885  or  1886,  to  denounce 
Governor-General  Landsdowne  for  harsh  treatment  of  his  Irish 
tenants.  While  protecting  William  O'Brien  from  the  furious  as- 
saults of  the  Orange  mob  on  Bay  Street,  in  Toronto,  Mr.  Cahill 
was  attacked  and  badly  injured.  On  the  question  of  taking  part  or 
not  taking  part  in  the  Queen's  Jubilee  procession,  Mr.  Cahill  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Toronto  separate  school  board  and  dur- 
ing his  term  of  service  he  succeeded  in  establishing  night  schools 
for  the  Italian  residents  of  that  city,  which  were  productive  of 
much  good.  He  led  the  agitation  for  voting  by  ballot  at  school  elec- 
tions and  was  defeated  at  the  ensuing  election. 

He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Young  Men's  Liberal 
Club,  of  Toronto;  an  organization  which  has  spread  its  branches 
all  over  Canada  and  during  the  recent  elections  helped  materially 
to  bring  about  the  triumph  of  the  Hon.  Wilfred  Laurier.  Mr.  Ca- 
hill was  active  and  prominent  in  the  fiery  debates  which  distin- 
guished the  proceedings  of  the  club,  and  was  considered  one  of  the 
most  forcible  and  effective  debaters  in  the  organization.  His  news- 
•  paper  career  began  on  the  "Irish  Canadian,"  a  Toronto  journal 
now  merged  in  the  "Catholic  Register."  He  always  had  a  predilec- 
tion for  newspaper  work,  and  Patrick  Boyle  the  kindly  old  editor 
of  the  "Canadian,"  encouraged  this  bent.  In  1890  Mr.  Cahill  came 
to  Chicago,  attracted  like  most  young  men  of  the  Dominion  by  the 
greater  opportunities  of  the  Republic,  as  well  as  by  its  freer  po- 
litical and  religious  atmosphere. 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  185 

He  found  his  first  newspaper  employment  on  the  "Chicago 
Morning  News,"  now  the  "Record."  That  new  journalistic  condi- 
tions bothered  the  newcomer  not  a  little  he  is  willing  to  confess. 
A  big  "scoop,"  however,  in  connection  with  a  labor  strike  gave 
the  management  of  the  paper  some  idea  of  the  stuff  of  which  the 
new  reporter  was  made  and  his  rise  thereafter  was  comparatively 
easy.  In  1892  he  was  given  charge  of  the  political  and  municipal 
reporting  of  the  "Record,"  and  held  the  place  until  appointed  Sec- 
retary to  the  postoffice  by  Postmaster  Washington  Hesing,  Janu- 
ary 1st,  1891. 

During  his  newspaper  career  he  doggedly  fought  municipal 
and  political  corruption  wherever  it  showed  its  head  and  rendered 
material  service  to  the  community  on  many  an  occasion  about 
which  the  community,  owing  to  the  conditions  of  newspaper  work, 
is  blissfully  ignorant. 

As  a  newspaper  writer,  Mr.  Cahill  was  distinguished  by  the 
accuracy  and  breadth  of  his  reports,  as  well  as  by  the  use  of  terse 
and  forcible  English. 

In  his  three  years'  service  at  the  postoffice,  Mr.  Cahill  has  become 
thoroughly  conversant  with  the  details  of  postoffice  matters.  He 
edits  the  Bulletin,  writes  the  reports,  and  has  entire  charge  of  the 
Bureau  of  Correspondence.  Of  a  very  practical  turn  of  mind,  he 
has  suggested  many  valuable  changes  and  improvements  in  the 
working  system  of  the  postoffice. 

While  not  a  member  of  any  society,  he  yet  realizes  the  value 
of  organized  effort,  though  for  want  of  leisure  has  not  been  able 
to  avail  himself  of  such  advantages.  He  is  a  hard  reader  and  a 
diligent  student.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Press  Club  of  Chicago, 
an  ardent  devotee  of  the  bicycle  and  a  good  long  distance  rider. 

The  political  reporter  often  enough  has  no  pronounced  feeling 
for  one  or  other  of  the  political  parties,  and  Mr.  Cahill  is  no  excep- 
tion to  the  rule.  He  has  strong  and  pronounced  opinions  on  politi- 


186  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF    THE 

cal  questions,  but  he  does  not  find  his  opinions  represented  to  any 
extent  by  existing  parties,  and  he  has  therefore  refrained  from  at- 
taching himself  to  either. 

Mr.  Cahill  was  married  in  1887  to  Mary  Starr,  of  Ottawa,  Can- 
ada. His  family  consists  of  three  boys  and  one  girl.  He  possesses 
strong  individuality  and  great  force  of  character,  and  is  notably 
frank  and  outspoken.  He  is  a  quiet  looking  man  with  the  appear- 
ance of  a  student.  An  ardent  American  in  sentiment,  he  is  devoted 
to  the  institutions  and  welfare  of  his  adopted  country. 


REV.  P.  J.  MULDOON. 


Than  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  now  pastor  of  the  con- 
gregation of  the  Church  of  St.  Charles  Borromeo,  but  who  for  many 
years  was  Chancellor  of  the  Archdiocese  of  Chicago,  there  is  no 
priest  in  Chicago  to-day  more  highly  esteemed  or  held  in  truer  af- 
fection by  the  people  under  his  charge.  Noble  natured,  kindly,  gen- 
erous and  entirely  unselfish  in  all  ways,  Father  Muldoon  is  a  true 
type  of  the  Irish  priest,  on  all  occasions  a  friend  to  those  in  need, 
but  an  unswerving  upholder  of  his  religion  and  the  rights  of  the 
church. 

Hev.  P.  J.  Muldoon  was  born  October  10,  1863,  at  Columbia, 
Tuolumne  County,  California,  his  parents,  John  J.  and  Catherine 
(Coughlin)  Muldoon,  being  natives  respectively  of  County  Cavan 
and  County  Galway,  Ireland.  The  father,  who  was  by  trade  a  con- 
tractor, had  left  Ireland  when  a  young  man  and  settled  at  Stock- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  189 

ton,  California,  and  it  was  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city  that 
the  subject  of  the  present  sketch  obtained  his  early  education.  At 
fourteen  he  entered  upon  the  collegiate  course  (classical  and  com- 
mercial) at  St.  Mary's,  Kentucky,  and  four  years  later  began  the 
two  years'  philosophical  course  at  St.  Mary's  Seminary,  Baltimore, 
Md.,  completing  his  studies  with  a  four  years'  theological  course  in 
the  same  institution. 

His  ordination  to  the  priesthood  took  place  December  18th, 
1880,  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  by  Bishop  Loughlin,  and  his  first  ap- 
pointment was  to  St.  Pius  Church,  Chicago,  where  he  remained 
for  eighteen  months.  He  was  appointed  in  November,  1888,  Chan- 
cellor of  the  Archdiocese  of  Chicago  and  Secretary  of  his  Grace  the 
Archbishop,  and  this  very  responsible  office  he  held  until  Novem- 
ber, 1895,  when  he  was  appointed  pastor  of  St.  Charles  Borromeo's 
Church,  situated  at  Twelfth  and  Cypress  Streets,  where  he  now  re- 
mains, endeared  to  his  flock  by  multitudinous  instances  of  self- 
sacrificing  devotion  to  the  requirements,  religious  and  otherwise, 
of  all  its  members. 

To  his  arduous  duties  as  Secretary  and  Chancellor  of  the  Arch- 
diocese, Father  Muldoon  added,  during  the  Columbian  Exposition, 
the  secretaryship  of  the  Chicago  Catholic  educational  exhibit.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  and  is 
the  director  of  the  St.  Vincent  de  Paul  Society  of  the  Archdiocese. 
Regarding  his  political  views,  he  votes  independently  of  all  party 
organizations,  believing  that  the  qualifications  of  the  man  are  in- 
finitely higher  requisites  than  mere  political  associations. 

Charming  in  manner,  dignified  in  appearance,  tall  and  com- 
manding in  figure,  yet  withal  absolutely  unassuming,  Father  Mul- 
doon possesses  a  rich  fund  of  information  upon  all  timely  topics 
and  a  fund  of  humor  which  is  a  delight  to  the  thousands  of  his 
friends  throughout  Chicago,  who  in  him  recognize  that  best  type  of 

the  ecclesiastic,  the  loving,  kindly  friend  who  can  sorrow  with  them 
10 


190  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

as  well  as  rejoice,  and  who  faithfully  and  earnestly  is  endeavoring 
to  carry  out  God's  work  in  the  world,  armed  with  that  happy  cheeri- 
ness  which  is  the  strongest  power  in  dissipating  the  miseries  and 
evil  which  are  so  universal. 


JOHN  J.  COBURN. 


John  J.  Coburn  was  born  in  that  portion  of  Cook  County  where 
the  village  of  Clyde  now  stands.  The  history  of  the  family  to 
which  he  belongs  is  an  interesting  one.  Henry  Coburn,  his  father, 
was  born  in  1824,  in  Creggan,  County  Wexford,  Ireland,  where 
the  so-called  rebellion  of  1798,  in  which  many  members  of  the 
Coburn  family  took  a  very  active  part,  had  its  origin.  These  Co- 
burns  of  Creggan  were  direct  descendants  of  General  John  Coburn, 
who  came  over  from  England  with  Cromwell  during  that  fateful 
period  of  Irish  history,  in  which  the  Protector  bore  so  important 
a  part.  Henry  Coburn  left  his  native  land  in  1848,  and  coming  to 
America  located  in  Williamsbury  in  upper  Canada,  where  he  met 
and  married  Elizabeth  Chittick,  a  young  lady  whose  birthplace  was 
Enniskillen,  in  Ireland,  and  the  daughter  of  a  gentleman  farmer 
there.  The  year  following  they  came  to  Chicago  and  a  little  later 
found  a  home  on  the  Felker  farm,  situated  in  Dupage  County, 
Illinois.  When  the  Felker  farm  was  given  up,  Henry  Coburn  and 
his  wife  removed  to  the  township  of  Lyons,  Cook  County,  where 
Mr.  Coburn  still  lives  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  vigorous  old  age  and 
happy  in  the  recollections  of  a  useful  and  profitably  spent  life. 

John  J.  Coburn,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  March 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  191 

14th,  1861,  and  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
town  of  Lyons  and  the  high  school  of  Englewood,  taking  a  classical 
course  in  the  latter.  His  school-days  at  an  end,  from  1879  to  1881 
he  taught  school  in  the  school  house  he  had  as  a  boy  attended, 
and  was  later  a  member  of  the  class  of  1883  at  the  Union  College 
of  Law,  where  Mr.  William  J.  Bryan — the  presidential  candidate — 
was  one  of  his  class  mates.  He  did  not  wait  to  graduate  in  due 
course  with  his  class,  but  took  the  examination  before  the  Supreme 
Court,  receiving  a  license  to  practice  in  1883.  The  practice  of  law 
was  then  at  once  commenced  in  this  city,  and  his  energy  and 
perseverance  found  good  reward.  His  first  clients  were  found 
among  his  old  neighbors,  but  gradually  he  was  able  to  widen  the 
circle  and  his  services  became  in  very  general  demand.  His  great- 
est reputation  was  gained  while  acting  as  attorney  for  the  prop- 
erty owners  in  the  condemnation  suits,  instituted  by  the  com- 
missioners of  the  great  drainage  canal,  for  the  handling  of  which 
cases  he  was  given  the  highest  commendation.  Indeed,  so  many 
suits  did  he  win  that  the  drainage  commission  was  compelled  for 
self  protection  to  retain  him  as  special  attorney.  On  May  1st, 
1895,  he  entered  into  a  partnership  with  Judge  Lawrence  M.  Eimis, 
of  whom  a  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Ennis  &  Coburn.  It  is  as  a  trial  lawyer  that  Mr. 
Coburn  chiefly  excels,  for  his  logical,  well  arranged  arguments  are 
possessed  of  most  effective  power.  A  ready  speaker,  lie  has  a 
splendid,  knowledge  of  human  nature,  and  where  a  jury  is  to  be 
dealt  with,  his  success  has  become  almost  proverbial.  Out  of  sev- 
eral thousand  cases,  in  fact,  he  claims  only  three  have  been  lost 
where  the  matter  has  gone  to  a  jury.  Consequently  the  further 
claim  is  no  matter  for  surprise  that  his  firm  possesses  the 
largest  list  of  clients  and  has  the  representation  as  attorneys  for 
all  the  villages  in  the  southwest  suburbs  of  the  city.  Mr.  Co- 
burn's  good  professional  success  has  been  utilized  by  judicious 


192  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

investment  and  has  brought  him  into  the  possession  of  considerable 
property. 

Mr.  Coburn  was  married,  May  day,  1891,  to  Annie  M.  Valentine, 
and  they  have  two  children.  Always  a  thorough  Democrat,  in 
politics  and  political  matters  he  has  taken  a  very  active  interest. 
Upon  several  occasions  he  has  been  invited  to  accept  office,  but 
up  to  the  present,  such  offers  have  been  met  with  refusal,  although 
his  friends  are  hopeful  of  their  power  to  lead  him  into  a  public 
life. 

There  is  no  man  in  Chicago  who  possesses  more  friends  or  who 
is  held  in  higher  honor  or  esteem  for  his  good  personal  qualities 
as  well  as  high  natural  gifts  than  the  eminent  American  Irishman, 
John  J.  Coburn. 


MICHAEL  CUDAHY. 

An  Irishman  by  birth,  born  in  the  historical  old  town  of  Cal- 
lan,  County  Kilkenny,  on  December  7th,  1841,  every  one  of  Irish 
blood  is  familiar  with  the  name  of  Michael  Cudahy.  He  is  among 
the  most  prominent  of  many  prominent  Chicagoans  who  have  been 
the  architects  of  their  own  fortunes.  By  never  failing  energy,  un- 
tiring perseverance,  unswerving  determination,  the  complete  mas- 
tering of  every  detail  in  his  business,  he  has  won  a  place  in  the 
first  rank  of  the  world's  great  packers,  as  well  as  an  honored  posi- 
tion among  the  citizens  of  this  great  city.  A  man  of  sterling  worth, 
inflexible  integrity  and  quiet  unassuming  manner,  he  leaves  upon 
all  who  meet  him  the  impress  of  his  own  character,  revealing  by 
every  detail  of  his  life  the  power  of  a  noble  manhood.  His  mother's 
family  were  originally  from  Dublin,  but  a  removal  had  been  made 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  195 

to  Gillian  and  a  pottery  established  for  the  manufacture  of  crock- 
ery. Patrick  Cudahy,  his  father,  a  man  who  united  thought  with 
action,  recognizing  the  scanty  opportunities  a  life  in  Ireland  offered 
and  the  broader  field  as  well  as  the  better  opportunities  for  ad- 
vancement to  be  found  in  the  new  world,  if  not  for  himself,  for  his 
then  growing  family,  decided  to  emigrate  to  America,  and  with 
his  wife,  Elizabeth  (Shaw)  Cudahy,  and  his  family,  came  to  the 
United  States,  in  1849,  shortly  afterwards  locating  at  Milwaukee, 
Wis.  Young  Cudahy  in  this  city  obtained  his  first  insight  into  the 
packing  house  and  stock  yard  work,  for  even  while  attending 
school  and  acquiring  a  simple  education,  it  was  necessary  he 
should  do  some  work  around  the  slaughter  houses. 

At  fourteen  he  regularly  entered  the  employ  of  Messrs.  Layton 
&  Plankinton,  packers,  Milwaukee,  and  then  at  nineteen  was  given 
a  position  with  Ed  Roddis,  packer,  also  of  Milwaukee.  With  the 
latter  he  remained  until  the  business  was  closed  out  in  1866,  when 
he  started  in  for  himself,  but  such  advantageous  offers  were  made 
him  by  Mr.  Fred  Layton,  of  Milwaukee,  that  he  disposed  of  his 
business  and  entered  the  employ  of  Layton  &  Co.,  as  private  meat 
inspector,  the  position  of  meat  inspector  on  the  Milwaukee  Board 
of  Trade  being  secured  for  him  at  the  same  time.  From  Mr.  Lay- 
ton,  Michael  Cudahy  received  practical  encouragement  and  every 
assistance  that  close  friendship  could  offer,  and  of  the  advantages 
of  this  association  Mr.  Cudahy  has  always  been  duly  sensible.  He 
was  offered,  in  1869,  a  position  with  Messrs.  Plankinton  &  Armour, 
Milwaukee,  Wis.,  to  take  charge  of  their  packing  house — at  tliat 
time  a  small  frame  building,  and  the  whole  plant,  including  ma- 
chinery, not  exceeding  in  value  |35,000,  but  which  has  become  one 
of  the  largest  packing  establishments  in  the  United  States.  So 
successful  was  his  management  that,  in  1873,  Mr.  P.  D.  Armour 
proffered  him  a  partnership  in  the  now  celebrated  firm  of  Armour 
&  Co.,  of  Chicago,  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  existence,  and  known 


196  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

throughout  the  civilized  world.  Thoroughly  competent  and  with 
sound  practical  knowledge  of  the  business  in  all  its  branches  and 
details,  Mr.  Cudahy  took  control  of  the  stock  yard  end  of  the  enter- 
prise, and  for  nearly  seventeen  years  had  practically  entire  man- 
agement. 

When  the  committee  was  formed  to  solicit  subscriptions  from 
the  packers  for  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition,  the  estimation 
in  which  Mr.  Cudahy  was  held  was  shown  by  his  appointment  as 
chairman. 

Pie  was  married,  in  1866,  to  Miss  Catharine  Sullivan,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  John  Sullivan,  a  farmer  in  comfortable  circumstances 
residing  near  Milwaukee,  Wis.  Their  marriage  has  been  blessed 
with  seven  children,  four  daughters  and  three  sons.  The  eldest 
daughter,  Elizabeth,  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Wm.  P.  Nelson,  one  of  Chi- 
cago's successful  business  men.  Mrs.  Cudahy  is  a  lady  possessed 
of  many  estimable  qualities;  she  is  most  charitable  and  her  life 
is  devoted  to  her  family,  and  to  her  good  training  and  broad  mind, 
her  children  owe  much  of  their  educational  advantages,  as  well  as 
their  numerous  accomplishments. 

While  in  politics  he  belongs  to  the  Democratic  party,  he  is  no 
extremist,  and  irrespective  of  party  will  support  the  best  available 
man  for  the  position. 

ITe  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  a  faithful  member  and  a  liberal  sup- 
porter of  that  church.  He  is  also  thoroughly  American  in  his  feel- 
ings, loving  and  honoring  the  many  noble  institutions  of  his  adopt- 
ed country. 

Mr.  Cudahy  is  the  eldest  of  five  brothers  and  one  sister,  Cath- 
arine. The  latter,  who  in  1883  had  become  a  Sister  of  the  Good 
Shepherd,  endowing  the  Order  with  a  handsome  sum  of  money, 
died  January  19th,  1892,  at  the  House  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  Mil- 
waukee, Wis.  Her  life  had  been  consecrated  to  a  noble  cause,  and 
her  untimely  death  was  a  source  of  deep  sorrow  to  many  hearts. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  197 

She  was  beloved  by  all  those  who  knew  her,  either  in  the  world  as 
Miss  Cudahy,  or  in  religion  as  Sister  Stanislaus.  William  Cudahy 
died  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven.  John  and  Patrick  succeeded  John 
Plaukinton  &  Co.,  formerly  Plankinton  &  Armour,  of  Milwaukee, 
in  their  packing  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Cudahy  Broth- 
ers; the  first  named  lives  in  Chicago  and  the  latter  in  Milwaukee. 
John  Cudahy  has  been  prominently  identified  with  Chicago  pack- 
ing interests,  and  was  formerly  associated  with  Mr.  Chapin,  as 
Chapin  &  Cudahy,  later  trading  in  his  own  name.  Edward  A.  is 
a  partner  with  Michael  Cudahy,  forming  the  corporation  of  the 
Cudahy  Packing  Co.,  Omaha,  Nebraska,  which,  before  the  with- 
drawal of  Mr.  P.  D.  Armour  from  the  firm,  was  the  Armour-Cudahy 
Packing  Co.  Edward  A.  is  well  known  in  business  circles  as  an 
unusually  bright  and  energetic  business  man.  He  resides  at 
Omaha,  where  they  have  been  located  for  eight  years  and  have  a 
large  and  rapidly  increasing  packing  and  provision  business.  As 
an  idea  of  the  extent  of  their  interests,  it  may  be  stated  that  in 
one  year  their  distributing  sales  amounted  to  over  |23,000,000, 
and  their  pay-roll  reached  the  sum  of  fl,000,000.  Houses  have 
also  been  established  in  Sioux  City  and  Los  Angeles. 

Mr.  Cudahy  withdrew  from  the  firm  of  Armour  &  Co.  in  No- 
vember, 1890.  The  association  had  been  of  a  mutually  profitable 
character,  and  Mr.  P.  D.  Armour  said,  in  speaking  of  the  separa- 
tion: "He  leaves  me  after  a  connection  honorable  throughout,  de- 
void of  clash,  rich,  prosperous,  and  with  an  enviable  reputation 
in  the  business  world." 

Mr.  Cudahy  is  a  man  of  exceedingly  robust  constitution  and 
'fine  physical  proportions;  he  is  of  a  social  disposition  and  takes 
considerable  interest  in  all  manly  sports;  he  is  a  lover  of  the  fine 
arts,  and  has  the  especial  fondness  for  music  so  common  to  those 
of  Irish  birth.  He  also  possesses  in  no  small  degree  the  wit  and 
exuberance  of  spirits  which  characterize  his  race;  is  a  most  genial 


198  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

companion,  a  pleasing  conversationalist,  and  a  warm  and  sincere 
friend.  Of  prejudice  he  is  absolutely  devoid,  and  is  not  easily 
swayed^  for  determination  is  among  his  chief  characteristics.  In 
his  dealings  he  is  ever  thorough  and  cautious  and  consequently 
the  judgment  he  forms  is  sound  and  sure.  To  all  objects  of  a 
worthy  and  benevolent  character  he  is  generous  in  his  contribu- 
tions, and  to  befriend  and  place  in  positions  young  men  worthy  of 
his  support  is  to  him  a  great  source  of  happiness;  indeed,  the  num- 
ber of  those  in  this  and  other  cities  who  owe  their  first  start  in 
life  to  the  kindly  influence  and  the  charitable  disposition  of  Mr. 
Michael  Cudahy  is  very  large. 


MICHAEL  H.  MCGRATH,  M.  D. 


Dr.  Michael  H.  McGrath,  one  of  Chicago's  best  known  and  emi- 
nently successful  physicians,  is  a  native  of  Saratoga  Springs,  New 
York  State,  where  he  was  born  January  5th,  1855.  His  father, 
Michael,  and  mother,  Margaret  (Farrell)  McGrath,  were  both  na- 
tives of  Tipperary,  Ireland,  and  in  1846  came  to  the  United  States 
together.  For  several  generations  on  both  sides  the  family  were 
well-to-do  Irish  farmers  and  honored  members  of  the  yeomanry. 
For  some  years  Michael  McGrath,  who  had  had  a  good  business 
training  and  held  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility  among  the 
merchants  of  Tipperary  for  some  fifteen  years  previous  to  his  com- 
ing to  America,  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in  Vermont, 
but  in  1858  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Lincoln. 

The  early  years  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  were  passed  on  the 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  199 

farm  at  Lincoln  and  among  the  forests  and  prairies  of  Illinois  amid 
all  the  frequent  hardships  which  attend  pioneer  life.  Like  most 
boys  of  health  and  spirit,  he  passed  through  many  escapades  and 
hair  breadth  escapes,  and  though  of  slight  build,  he  still  remembers 
with  some  pride  how  he  and  his  brother  stood  their-  ground  with 
the  best  in  the  various  youthful  amusements,  engagements  and 
encounters. 

Realistic,  however,  though  were  the  rougher  phases  of  his  early 
life,  yet  as  a  consequence  the  boy  imbibed  a  warm  love  of  nature— 
of  the  birds,  the  trees,  the  brooks  and  lakes — and  its  after  effect 
has  been  that  the  doctor  possesses  a  strong  taste  and  appreciation 
for  poetry  and  literature.  Probably  it  was  this  tendency  that  in- 
clined him  towards  a  professional  career,  and  as  one  brother,  T.  L. 
McGrath,  chose  political  life  and  at  time  of  his  death  in  1885  was 
State  Senator,  and  another  brother,  Rev.  D.  E.  McGrath,  selected 
the  church,  Michael  decided  on  adopting  the  medical  profession. 

He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  until  his  eighteenth 
year,  when  he  went  to-  St.  John's  College  at  Prairie  du  Chien, 
Wis.,  and  from  there  graduated  with  considerable  honors  in  1874. 
Two  years  then  were  spent  as  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of 
Lincoln,  and  at  the  same  time  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine 
at  Rush  Medical  College,  where  he  graduated  in  1880.  His  first 
active  practice  was  at  Independence,  Iowa,  where  he  remained 
three  years,  when  he  decided  to  remove  to  the  larger  field  offered 
by  Chicago.  The  medical  abilities  of  Dr.  McGrath  have  met  with 
decided  appreciation  and  he  has  been  enabled  to  establish  a  consid- 
erable practice,  especially  along  the  lines  of  disease  of  the  chest 
and  the  diseases  of  women.  A  large  portion  of  his  success  he  at- 
tributes to  the  fact  that  he  has  made  a  specialty  of  those  bra.nches 
and  has  always  refused  to  be  bound  to  any  special  code  of  medical 
ethics,  believing  that  special  and  peculiar  circumstances  are  su- 
perior to  any  rigidly  laid  down  rules  of  practice. 


200  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

Dr.  McGrath  is  a  Bryan  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  and 
would  wish  to  have  taken  more  active  part  in  the  work  and  coun- 
sels of  his  party  but  for  the  exactions  of  his  professional  duties  so 
entirely  engrossing  his  time.  He  has,  however,  found  the  time  to 
contribute  a  number  of  valuable  articles  to  the  medical  journals. 

Dr.  McGrath  is  a  strong  advocate  of  temperance  and  is  now 
President  of  St.  Malachy's  Total  Abstinence  Union.  As  a  phy- 
sician he  claims  that  alcohol  is  neither  useful  nor  necessary,  and 
neither  prescribes  it  for  his  patients  nor  in  any  way  encourages  its 
use.  He  is  a  valued  member  of  a  number  of  the  medical  societies 
of  Chicago  and  the  West. 

In  1890  Dr.  McGrath  was  married  to  Agnes,  daughter  of  Rich- 
ard Eyan  of  Chicago,  and  they  have  twin  boys  born  in  1894,  and  a 
baby  daughter.  Domestic  in  tastes,  he  enjoys  nothing  more  than 
home  and  family,  while  at  the  same  time  he  is  of  a  most  social  and 
genial  disposition  and  possesses  many  warm  friends  who  esteem 
him  for  his  numerous  high  qualities. 


ALVAH  LEWIS  CREELMAN. 


In  fertility  of  resource,  in  practical  application  of  every  scien- 
tific force,  in  inventive  genius,  America  leads  the  world.  There 
appears  to  be  something  in  the  free  air  of  our  country  that  gives 
the  mind  richer  scope  and  increases  its  natural  faculties.  Chicago 
and  the  great  West  have  not  failed  to  supply  their  due  propor- 
tion to  the  large  list  of  American  inventors  and  the  subject  of  the 
present  sketch  has  produced  several  appliances  which  well  entitle 
him  to  a  place  in  the  great  and  noble  list. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN   CHICAGO.  201 

Alvah  L.  Creelman  was  born  April  24th,  1853,  at  Monroe,  in 
Monroe  County,  Michigan.  His  father,  Samuel,  was  born  at  Bally- 
castle,  Ireland,  in  1808,  and  when  only  eight  years  old  went  to  Que- 
bec, removing  then  to  the  United  States  in  1818  and  settling  at 
Monroe,  Michigan.  When  young  Creelman  was  an  infant  of  twelve 
months  the  family  moved  to  Detroit,  and  here  his  boyhood  was 
spent.  Samuel  Creelman  died  on  a  farm  in  Ypsilanti  in  1887.  He 
was  married  in  1812  at  Monroe,  Mich.,  to  Clarissa  J.  Rhoades,  who 
is  still  living  with  her  daughter  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Creelman  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Ypsilanti, 
taking  the  ordinary  business  course.  Of  an  adventurous  disposi- 
tion, he  was  but  thirteen  when  he  decided  to  make  a  start  in  life 
for  himself,  and  finding  employment  as  agent  with  the  Wells-Fargo 
Express  Company  he  traveled  for  two  years  through  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  He  then  worked  for  a  year  with  the  Union  Pacific  Rail- 
road Company  as  operator  and  agent  and  then  went  south  to 
Selma,  Ala.,  where  he  was  given  the  position  of  private  secretary 
to  W.  L.  Lanier,  vice-president  of  the  Alabama  Central  Railroad. 
In  this  post  of  responsibility  the  fact  that  he  remained  for  ten 
years  and  until  the  road  was  sold,  speaks  sufficiently  clearly  as  to 
the  faithful  manner  in  which  his  duties  were  performed.  He  next 
removed  to  Memphis,  and  found  congenial  employment  with  the 
Western  Union  Telegraph  Co.  Electrical  subjects  had  always  been 
to  him  of  primary  interest  and  he  was  able  to  carry  on  his  experi- 
ments. His  work  has  borne  good  fruit;  one  result  in  the  produc- 
tion of  a  Circuit  Protecting  Sounder  for  the  protection  of  railroad 
train  dispatchers  being  of  sufficient  importance  to  obtain  ready 
recognition  by  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  who  have  introduced 
it  along  their  entire  system. 

Mr.  Creelman  was  married  in  1873  to  Miss  Emma  England,  of 
Saline,  La.,  and  there  were  born  to  them  four  children,  three  boys 
and  one  girl. 


202  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  political  views  of  Mr.  Creelman  Lave  always  been  those  of 
the  Democratic  party,  which  his  father  also  favored.  He  has  trav- 
eled extensively,  claiming  to  know  every  principal  city  throughout 
the  Union.  With  a  pleasant  manner  and  a  large  fund  of  ideas, 
Alva.li  L.  Creelman  is  a  very  excellent  companion  and  a  most  charm- 
ing friend. 


JOHN  W.   ENRIGHT. 


There  are  many  who  have  never  met  John  W.  Enright  in  person 
or  even  had  any  business  relations  with  him,  who  will  take 
pleasure  in  the  following  sketch  and  read  it  with  interest,  for  the 
reason  that  they  have  become  acquainted  with  the  man  and  with 
his  mental  bents  through  his  many  admirable  writings  on  religious, 
social  and  philosophical  questions. 

Mr.  Enright  is  a  native  of  Dromcolloher,  County  Limerick,  Ire- 
land, and  came  to  the  United  States  with  his  parents  and  brothers 
and  sisters  in  1850,  settling  at  New  Orleans.  His  father,  James 
Euright,  was  also  born  in- County  Limerick;  he  was  a  builder  by 
occupation,  and  married  Mary  Woods,  also  a  native  of  the  same 
county. 

The  primary  education  of  John  W.  Enright  was  received  in  the 
national  schools  of  Ireland,  and  after  coming  to  New  Orleans  he 
was  placed  under  private  tutors  and  he  made  mathematics  his 
principal  study.  His  first  occupation  after  concluding  these  studies 
was  as  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  New  Orleans,  that  position 
being  very  acceptably  filled  for  five  years,  when  he  entered  the 
Kedemptorist  College  of  that  city,  as  professor  in  mathematics, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  205 

and  remained  there  for  twelve  months.  While  teacher  in  the 
schools,  he  at  the  same  time  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Judge  Col- 
lens,  the  well  known  jurist  and  lawyer,  and  being  a  most  apt  and 
promising  law  student,  he  would  probably  have  followed  that  pro- 
fession as  his  life  work  and  achieved  therein  honor  and  success, 
were  it  not  for  an  offer  of  a  lucrative  character  that  came  to  him 
and  proved  too  strong  a  temptation  for  him  to  resist.  It  was  from 
the  Freret  Cotton  Press,  offering  him  a  place  in  their  employ  at 
a  salary  of  f  2,500  a  year,  now  a  large  sum  for  so  young  a  man,  but 
even  more  so  at  that  time — nearly  thirty-five  years  ago.  Mr.  En- 
right  remained  with  the  company  for  four  years,  and  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war,  which  of  course  entirely  paralyzed  the  cot- 
ton business. 

Then  he  came  to  Chicago,  and  having  accepted  a  position  as 
book-keeper  in  the  wholesale  liquor  house  of  Schwab,  McQuaid  & 
Smith,  remained  with  that  firm  for  two  years,  then  entering  into 
business  for  himself  in  the  same  line  under  the  firm  name  of  Smith, 
deary  &  Enright.  This  was  in  1868,  and  the  concern  carried  on 
business  successfully  until  the  great  fire  of  1871,  when  they  were 
totally  burned  out,  the  books  as  well  as  the  stock  being  entirely 
consumed.  The  firm,  however,  paid  one  hundred  cents  on  the  dol- 
lar without  even  asking  any  extension,  and  rebuilding,  started  in, 
and  continued  until  January  1st,  1890.  In  the  latter  year,  Mr. 
Enright  was  elected  president  of  the  Star  Brewery,  of  Chicago,  fill- 
ing that  position  for  one  year,  and  afterwards  the  office  of  secretary 
and  treasurer  for  two  years.  At  the  close  of  1892,  Mr.  Enright  start- 
ed in  the  distillery  business,  forming  a  connection  with  the  Globe 
Distilling  Company,  of  Pekin,  111.,  and  also  acting  as  general  agent 
for  the  Sonoma  Wine  &  Brandy  Co.,  of  California.  With  these  two 
connections  Mr.  Enright  transacts  a  business  of  fully  one  million 
dollars  a  year. 

Notwithstanding  the  activity  of  his  business  career  and  the 


206  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

constant  supervision  required,  Mr.  Enright  has  found  time  to  in- 
terest himself  somewhat  in  public  matters  appertaining  to  the  ad- 
vancement of  his  adopted  city  and  the  community  at  large.  He 
was  appointed  a  director  of  the  Chicago  Public  Library  by  the 
late  Carter  H.  Harrison,  in  1883,  served  five  years,  and  during  that 
time  he  was  twice  elected  president  of  the  Board  by  the  directors. 
His  connection  with  the  Board  ceased  in  1888. 

Mr.  Enright  was  president  and  treasurer  of  the  Irish  American 
Club,  which  is  now  unfortunately  out  of  existence,  and  is  at  the 
present  time  president  of  the  Marquette  Council  of  the  Catholic 
Benevolent  Legion.  Though  always  a  staunch  Roman  Catholic,  he 
is  a  man  of  most  broad  and  liberal  views,  conceding  to  all  the  right 
of  freedom  of  thought  as  well  as  freedom  of  speech.  In  his  politi- 
cal views  he  has  at  all  times  been  a  Democrat. 

Mr.  Enright  was  married  November  30th,  1865,  to  Mary  B. 
Croghan,  of  Chicago,  the  daughter  of  Edward  Croghan,  an  exten- 
sive landed  proprietor  of  County  Roscommon,  Ireland.  They  have 
eight  children  living,  five  daughters  and  three  sons,  and  one  daugh- 
ter died  two  years  ago.  Their  son  James  P.  acts  as  book- 
keeper for  his  father,  and  another  son,  Walter  J.,  is  a  member  of 
the  Art  Institute,  where  he  has  made  a  good  record.  He  has  already 
become  a  frequent  contributor  to  current  magazines.  One  of  the 
daughters  has  also  demonstrated  very  similar  abilities.  She  is  a 
teacher  of  drawing  in  one  of  the  high  schools  of  Chicago  and  has 
attained  great  proficiency  in  that  accomplishment. 

For  mathematics  Mr.  Enright  still  retains  his  old  taste,  but 
outside  of  his  own  business  he  is  principally  known  as  a  writer  for 
various  papers  and  publications.  His  reply  to  Ingersoll,  entitled 
"After  Death,"  which  was  published  in  the  "Citizen"  of  October 
6th,  1894,  was  masterly  in  character,  and  though  an  article  occu- 
pying little  more  than  a  column  of  space,  contained  in  a  small  com- 
pass as  much  pertinent  thought  as  might  be  given  in  many  volumes. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  207 

He  met  the  notorious  agnostic  on  his  own  grounds,  and  every  liue 
telling,  pointed  out  clearly  and  most  forcibly  his  fallacious  reason- 
ing. This  is  mentioned  only  as  an  illustration  of  many  other  valu- 
able contributions  from  Mr.  Enright's  pen. 

Mr.  Enright  is  a  man  in  the  prime  of  life,  genial  and  dignified, 
a  delightful  conversationalist,  and  who,  having  gathered  around 
him  a  host  of  friends,  one  need  hardly  say  is  most  warmly  esteemed 
by  all  who  know  him  for  his  eminent  qualities  both  of  head  and 
heart. 

The  family  relations  of  Mr.  Enright  are  also  of  the  most  happy 
character,  for  far  from  being  the  austere  and  tyrannical  father  of 
story  and  oft-times  of  fact,  he  is  the  friend  and  companion  of  his 
children,  and  while  looked  up  to  with  the  respect  due  the  father 
and  head  of  the  household,  he  at  the  same  time  enters  with  sym- 
pathy and  interest  into  their  pursuits  and  recreations. 

Ills  brother,  Rev.  Timothy  Eftright,  entered  the  Redemptorist 
College,  of  Annapolis,  Md.,  in  1850,  and  was  ordained  in  Baltimore 
in  1863,  in  the  same  class  of  students  which  contained  Archbishop 
Gross,  of  Oregon.  As  a  missionary  priest,  Father  Enright  has  since 
traveled  through  the  United  States,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  noted  linguists  in  the  country,  speaking 
some  fifteen  languages.  He  is  now  at  St.  Michael's  Church,  where 
he  officiates  in  connection  with  the  Order  of  Redemptorists,  of  which 
he  is  a  member. 


208  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF   THE 


THOMAS  ALEXANDER  SMYTH. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  if  not  exactly  of  Chicago  birth, 
barely  escaped  that  fortune,  for  it  was  on  the  steamboat  St.  Jo- 
seph, when  journeying  from  Buffalo  to  Chicago,  and  in  the  Chi- 
cago Harbor,  half  an  hour  before  the  landing  stage  was  reached, 
that  Thomas  Alexander  Smyth  first  saw  the  light  of  day. 

Neither  high  political  preferment  nor  stupendous  business  suc- 
cess are  needed  to  make  a  life  of  pleasing  interest  to  its  readers, 
or  of  good  and  valuable  instruction  to  one's  fellow  men.  T.  A. 
Smyth  has  worked  along  calmly  but  continuously.  All  that  his 
hand  found  to  do,  he  did  with  the  very  utmost  of  his  power,  and 
to-day  he  stands  among  the  foremost  Irish  Americans  of  this  great 
city;  no  man  in  it  better  known,  more  highly  respected,  or  more 
truly  honored. 

He  was  born  September  27, 1848;  his  father,  Michael  K.  Smyth, 
and  his  mother,  Bridget  McDonald  Smyth,  were  both  from  Ballina, 
County  Mayo,  and  of  good  Irish  descent  for  several  generations. 
The  business  of  Michael  K.  Smyth  was  that  of  importer  of  lumber 
and  tobacco;  he  was  in  very  comfortable  circumstances  and  the 
owner  of  a  number  of  vessels.  In  1828,  however,  he  sought  a  larger 
field  for  action,  and  settling  in  Quebec,  Canada,  engaged  in  the 
fur  business.  A  few  years  later  he  moved  to  the  United  States  and 
took  up  the  business  of  a  wholesale  grocer  in  Buffalo,  New  York. 
In  1848  he  started  for  Chicago,  and  on  the  journey,  as  was  men- 
tioned before,  Thomas  A.  was  born.  He  obtained  a  situation  as 
land  agent  to  William  B.  Ogden,  then  largely  interested  in,  and 
later  president  of  the  Galena  Air  Line.  The  business  abilities 
Michael  K.  Smyth  displayed  obtained  quick  recognition,  and  he 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  209 

was  appointed  town  clerk  in  1850,  and  served  for  one  year;  but  at 
the  same  time  acting  for  Mr.  Ogden.  An  active  member  of  the 
Volunteer  Fire  Department  in  1853,  the  performance  of  this  pa- 
triotic duty  was  the  cause  of  his  death.  One  winter  night  in  a 
temperature  below  zero,  he  was  called  to  a  fire,  and  with  another 
volunteer  was  caught  by  a  falling  gable.  To  save  them  from  the 
fire,  they  were  deluged  with  water,  and  the  after  exposure  produced 
a  severe  cold  which,  in  each  case,  terminated  fatally. 

Thomas  A.  Smyth  received  his  education  in  Chicago  public 
schools,  and  after  passing  through  the  grammar  school  immedi- 
ately sought  some  occupation.  He  first  entered  the  moulding  trade, 
but  it  was  so  disagreeable  that  he  found  it  necessary  to  change  to 
that  of  a  mason,  in  which  he  continued  until  1867.  He  then  started 
as  a  contractor  on  his  own  account,  and  was  very  successful  in 
his  venture.  Thereafter  he  entered  into  business  with  his  brother, 
John  M.  Smyth,  the  well  known  west  side  merchant,  the  firm  that 
is  now  known  as  the  John  M.  Smyth  Co.  Here  he  remained  until 
1888,  when  he  sold  out  his  interest  and  engaged  in  real  estate  loans 
and  insurance  business,  in  which  he  still  remains.  Success  has 
crowned  his  efforts,  and  his  real  estate  investments  have  brought 
him  very  material  gains. 

Mr.  Smyth  has  always  been  true  to  the  Democratic  party,  politi- 
cal appointment  he  has  never  sought,  although  strong  efforts  were 
used  to  induce  him  to  become  a  member  of  the  City  Council.  His 
popularity  was  shown,  however,  on  November  7,  1895,  in  his  elec- 
tion as  trustee  for  five  years  of  the  Sanitary  District  of  Chicago, 
which  is  engaged  in  the  stupendous  undertaking  of  building  the 
Drainage  Canal  from  Chicago  to  Joliet,  in  order  to  supply  Chicago 
with  a  perfect  system  of  drainage  and  also  with  pure  water.  The 
estimated  cost  of  this  great  enterprise  is  about  $35,000,000. 

He  was  married  August  27,  1879,  at  Boston,  Massachusetts,  to 

Sarah  Elizabeth  Usher,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  Usher. 
11 


210  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

She  was  born  in  England,  of  Irish  parents,  her  father  having 
been  a  captain  of  police,  both  in  England  and  Ireland.  There  were 
five  children,  Agnes,  John,  Sarah,  Joseph  and  Thomas,  all  of  whom 
are  living.  Mrs.  Smyth,  who  died  February  4,  1894,  was  a  tall 
and  graceful  woman,  of  intellectual  ideas  and  strong  religious 
temperament.  She  had  endeared  herself  to  an  immense  circle  of 
friends,  and  her  loss  was  a  terrible  grief  to  her  husband  and  their 
children. 

Thomas  Smyth  is  an  old  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and 
also  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians.  He  is  also  in  the  Eoyal 
Arcanum,  and  is  president  of  his  ward  club. 


JAMES  C.  DOOLEY. 


James  C.  Dooley,  the  west  side  Justice  of  the  Peace,  was  born 
in  Ireland,  December,  1850,  the  youngest  son  of  a  family  of  eight 
sons  and  one  daughter.  Concerning  his  parents,  his  father,  Michael 
Dooley,  was  a  farmer  in  moderate  circumstances,  while  his  mother 
was  formerly  Mary  O'Connor. 

James  C.  Dooley  received  his  education  partly  in  the  national 
schools  in  Ireland  and  partly  in  the  public  schools  of  Chicago, 
afterwards  taking  a  course  in  the  Bryant  &  Stratton  Business  Col- 
lege. He  was  sixteen  years  old  when  a  neighbor  of  the  family  in 
Ireland  was  setting  off  to  America,  and  deeply  though  such  a  part- 
ing was  felt,  he  was  permitted  to  go  also.  Landing  in  New  York 
in  1866,  his  sole  worldly  wealth  was  fifty  cents.  The  distance  and 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  211 

lack  of  funds  prevented  him  journeying  to  a  brother  in  Wisconsin, 
and  forced  him  to  immediately  secure  work.  He  found  a  position 
as  messenger  for  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company.  In 
1867  he  decided  to  come  to  Chicago  and  began  to  work  for  the 
Western  Union  Telegraph  Company  in  the  department  controlling 
the  shipment  of  telegraph  poles  and  other  construction  supplies. 
The  superintendent  of  the  department  having  discovered  Mr. 
Dooley's  abilities,  left  the  matter  of  attending  to  the  business  of 
the  department  entirely  in  his  charge.  So  well  was  every  duty 
performed  that  the  manager  finally  concluded  that  he  was  amply 
able  for  the  place  and  consequently  made  him  superintendent  of 
the  department.  Mr.  Dooley's  great  object  in  life  at  this  time 
was,  however,  to  secure  an  education,  and  for  that  purpose  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools  at  night,  and  by  saving  much  of  what  he 
was  able  to  earn  also  succeeded  in  taking  a  night  business  course 
in  the  college  mentioned  before.  He  left  the  employ  of  the  West- 
ern Union  Telegraph  Company  and  obtained  a  clerkship  and  the 
position  of  Deputy  Sheriff  in  the  Sheriff's  office  of  Cook  County, 
in  which  he  remained  from  1872  to  1891.  By  unanimous  recom- 
mendation of  the  judges  he  was  in  1891  appointed  by  Governor 
Fifer,  and  reappointed  by  Governor  Altgeld,  Justice  of  the  Peace 
of  the  Town  of  West  Chicago,  with  jurisdiction  within  Cook  County. 
This  opportunity  he  utilized  to  the  fullest  purpose  and  commenced 
the  study  of  law  at  the  Chicago  College  of  Law,  and  having  com- 
pleted his  course  was  examined  in  1895  for  admission  to  the  bar 
before  the  Appellate  Court  and  the  faculty  of  the  Law  School  and 
was  successful. 

A  Democrat  in  his  political  opinions,  he  has  oftentimes  been 
called  upon  to  act  as  chairman  of  town  conventions,  and  for  six 
years  was  a  member  of  the  Democratic  County  Central  Committee. 
In  1892  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic  National  Convention, 
held  at  Chicago,  which  resulted  in  the  election  of  Grover  Cleve- 


212  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

land.  lie  was  married  October  10th,  1876,  to  Miss  Bridget  Mc- 
Carthy, a  native  of  Chicago.  They  have  seven  children — Richard, 
the  eldest,  a  graduate  of  St.  Patrick's  School,  and  now  studying 
law,  has  shown  great  promise  as  a  public  speaker;  Lottie,  a  student 
in  the  Chicago  High  School;  Nellie,  is  a  girl  of  twelve,  who  ex- 
hibits considerable  musical  talent,  having  by  herself  acquired 
knowledge  of  the  piano  and  violin,  and  become  quite  proficient; 
the  others — James,  Charles,  Anna,  and  Genevieve — are  attending 
the  Sisters'  school. 

Justice  Dooley  is  a  Catholic  in  his  religious  views,  attending 
Father  Bonfield's  Church  with  his  family.  During  his  early  life, 
being  of  an  exceedingly  social  disposition,  there  was  scarcely  an 
Irish  society  of  which  he  was  not  a  member.  He,  however,  did  not 
limit  his  attention  to  those  societies  appealing  especially  to  Irish- 
men, but  was  also  connected  with  several  others,  particularly  of 
such  as  are  of  a  benevolent  nature. 


PATRICK   MILFORD   HANNEY. 


It  has  been  said,  and  possibly  with  some  foundation,  that  those 
of  the  Irish  race  have  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  considerable  voice 
in  the  government  of  every  country  to  which  a  migration  had  been 
made,  with  the  exception  of  their  own  land.  Irishmen  hold  high 
rank  in  the  armies  of  France,  Spain,  Austria,  Great  Britain,  and 
other  countries — the  secretary  of  the  Mexican  Navy  is  an  Irishman 
--and  in  the  United  States  they  are  to  be  found  with  high  rank 
not  only  in  the  army  and  navy  but  also  in  commercial  life,  for  seem- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  215 

ingly  the  Irish  character  possesses  many  of  the  essentials  of  suc- 
cess as  well  as  the  peculiar  qualification  of  never  being  satisfied 
until  the  principal  place  in  whatever  is  undertaken  has  been 
achieved. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  an  Irishman  who,  absolutely  un- 
privileged in  the  way  of  schooling  advantages,  none  the  less  man- 
aged to  secure  a  good  education,  and  when  thrown,  at  a  very  early 
age,  upon  the  world,  full  of  a  strong  will  and  steadfast  in  his  pur- 
pose, has  succeeded  in  making  his  name  a  power  in  the  business 
world.  Mr.  Patrick  Milford  Hanney,  president  of  the  Hazel  Pure 
Food  Co.,  and  at  the  same  time  manager  and  buyer  for  the  immense 
grocery  department  of  Siegel  &  Cooper,  was  born  in  County  Leitrim, 
Ireland,  April  13th,  1860,  his  parents  being  Patrick  and  Patrica 
(Fallen)  Hanney,  whose  family  were  farmers  in  that  section  of  the 
country.  Patrick  Hanney  died  in  1876  and  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject is  now  living  in  this  city. 

His  career  has  been  an  eminently  adventurous  one;  at  the  age 
of  sixteen,  Patrick  M.  Hanney  took  up  a  seafaring  life,  working 
his  way  on  a  steamer.  Arrived  in  India,  he  obtained  employment 
with  the  Hong-Kong  and  Indian  Importing  Company  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  an  errand  boy,  and  from  that  position  worked  his  way 
up  until,  on  reaching  twenty-one,  he  was  the  general  buyer  for  the 
company,  purchasing  $  1,500,000  worth  of  goods  each  year.  He  was 
a  splendid  judge  of  values  and  trading  appeared  to  come  to  him  as 
a  sort  of  second  nature.  Having  saved  some  money,  he  determined 
to  see  some  more  of  the  world,  and  was  also  ambitious  to  take  up 
the  business  of  coffee  growing.  With  this  object  in  view,  he  sailed 
for  South  America  and  began  to  speculate,  buying  coffee  and  ship- 
ping it  to  New  York  and  Chicago,  but  being  insufficiently  experi- 
enced, the  venture  did  not  prove  a  profitable  one. 

Moving  to  New  York  he  remained  there  two  years,  doing  busi- 
ness as  a  broker  in  foreign  products,  and  in  1886  located  in  Chi- 


216  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

cago,  engaging  in  the  jobbing  and  exporting  business.  His  capital, 
however,  proved  too  limited,  and  a  reported  failure  of  the  bank  in 
which  it  was  known  his  funds  were  deposited,  forced  him  out  of 
business,  and  left  him  in  debt  to  the  extent  of  |130,000.  Sterling 
in  his  honesty  and  a  man  of  the  strictest  integrity,  this  heavy  loss 
Mr.  Hanney  set  out  vigorously  to  clear,  and  so  nearly  has  this  been 
done  that  at  the  present  writing — 1897 — there  is  no  man  in  Chi- 
cago's commercial  circles  higher  rated  or  considered. 

In  1890  it  was  brought  to  the  notice  of  Mr.  Hanney  that  Messrs. 
Siegel  &  Cooper,  whose  store  was  then  located  at  the  corner  of 
Adams  and  Wabash  Avenue,  had  found  the  grocery  department 
an  unprofitable  venture  and  were  determined  to  close.  He  offered 
to  take  a  lease  and  to  this  the  firm  readily  assented.  The  business 
prospered  exceedingly  and  became  practically  a  gold  mine,  so  much 
so  that  when  the  firm  moved  to  its  new  building,  on  State  Street, 
a  different  arrangement  with  Mr.  Hanney  was  insisted  on.  He  was 
offered  a  certain  percentage  of  the  profits  and  afterwards  a  straight 
salary  of  $8,500  a  year,  the  latter  of  which  he  accepted.  At  the 
present  time  he  is  manager  and  buyer  of  the  grocery  department 
and  his  great  general  knowledge  of  goods  and  merchandise  has 
carried  him  into  a  very  close  and  confidential  relation  writh  the 
head  of  this  immense  firm,  who  remains  in  New  York  to  look  after 
the  interests  of  the  branch  there.  Mr.  Hanney's  good  judgment 
and  thoroughly  active  superintendence  have  increased  the  sales  of 
his  department  in  the  last  six  years  from  $100,000  to  $1,500,000  a 
year,  and  it  must  be  remembered  that  this  is  in  a  department  where 
others,  considered  to  be  strong  and  experienced,  have  absolutely 
failed. 

From  Mr.  Hanney's  first  arrival  in  the  TJnited  States  he  had 
noticed  that  the  food  products  of  this  country  were  so  cheap  and 
so  plentiful  that  it  was  possible  to  put  up  pure  goods  and  ship 
abroad  at  a  cost  far  below  what  could  be  done  by  any  other  nation. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  217 

Going  to  Washington,  he  endeavored,  unsuccessfully,  to  organize 
such  a  company,  but  his  agitation  of  the  subject  produced  good 
fruit  in  the  recent  legislation  in  several  of  the  States  against  im- 
pure foods. 

In  1890  he  organized,  promoted,  and  has  been  able  to  place 
on  a  solid  business  foundation,  the  Hazel  Pure  Food  Co.,  which  is 
now  selling  annually  |6,000,000  worth  of  the  pure  food  products. 
One-half  of  the  stock  in  the  concern  is  owned  by  Siegel  &  Cooper, 
and  Mr.  Hanney  owns  the  balance,  and  is  at  the  same  time  president 
and  general  manager.  In  face  of  the  enormous  yearly  sales,  it  is 
unnecessary  to  state  that  the  business  has  been  a  very  great  suc- 
cess, or  that  Mr.  Hanney's  faith  in  good  and  pure  foods  has  been 
amply  justified. 

lie  led  to  the  altar,  in  1888,  Jessie  M.  Sinclair,  of  Aberdeen, 
Scotland,  a  lady  of  many  accomplishments.  They  have  a  family  of 
three  children. 

Like  all  Irishmen,  Mr.  Hanney  possesses  a  strong  predilection 
for  athletics  of  all  descriptions,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Chicago 
Athletic  Association. 

In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  in  politics  inde- 
pendent. Quite  a  traveler,  he  has  visited  every  part  of  the  world, 
and  every  year  the  necessities  of  his  business  take  him  to  Europe. 
Fie  is  also  an  extensive  reader,  talking  intelligently  and  interest- 
ingly upon  all  topics  of  the  day,  and  is  at  all  times  pleasant,  cour- 
teous, kindly,  and  generous,  a  gentleman  of  many  friends  and  by 
all  held  in  the  highest  esteem  and  affection. 


218  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF   THE 


JOSEPH  JOHN   DUFFY. 


To  be  a  self-made  man  in  this  western  life  of  unsparing  vigor 
and  ceaseless  activity  is  to  demonstrate  the  possession  of  great 
and  unusual  gifts.  To  be  able  to  withstand  successfully  the 
mighty  powers  of  capitalists  and  by  arduous  labor,  the  utilization 
of  every  physical  and  mental  power,  make  the  possessors  of  cap- 
ital serve  you,  each  on  an  equal  platform,  this  it  is  to  be  notable 
and  deservedly  proud.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  may  well  flatter 
himself  upon  the  opportunities  he  has  made,  the  manner  in  which 
he  has  used  and  the  reputation  he  has  gained. 

Joseph  John  Duffy  was  born  in  Chicago,  August  20th,  1859. 
His  father,  John,  and  mother,  Elizabeth  (Canfield)  Duffy,  came  to 
this  city  from  Roscommon,  Ireland,  in  1840.  John  Duffy,  senior, 
became  one  of  the  most  prominent  contractors  of  Chicago  in  his 
day.  Young  John  Duffy  attended  school  at  St.  Patrick's  and  after- 
wards at  the  seminary  of  our  Lady  of  the  Angels,  at  Niagara  Falls. 
After  leaving  school,  young  Duffy  went  into  the  general  contract- 
ing business  with  his  father  for  ten  years,  afterwards  entering  into 
a  partnership  with  his  brother  Michael.  Many  large  contracts 
with  the  City  of  Chicago  were  taken  by  him,  among  which  may  be 
mentioned  the  Chicago  Avenue  and  Halsted  Street  viaduct  and  the 
Western  Avenue  and  Kinzie  Street  viaduct.  During  the  last  four 
or  five  years  he  has  laid  on  an  average  between  200,000  and  300,000 
yards  of  street  paving. 

In  1890  Mr.  Joseph  Duffy  separated  from  his  brother  and  since 
that  time  has  carried  on  the  business  alone.  He  is  now  engaged 
011  a  very  large  contract,  the  building  of  the  North  West  line  tun- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  219 

nel,  which  will  be  used  to  bring  water  from  the  lake  to  supply  the 
west  division  of  the  city.  The  price  to  be  paid  is  $400,000,  and  the 
tunnel  is  to  be  three  and  one-half  miles  long  and  eight  feet  in 
diameter.  Mr.  Duffy  has  gained  a  reputation  for  quick  work,  and 
in  six  months  he  completed  one  mile — far  more  rapid  work  than 
has  ever  hitherto  been  done. 

Mr.  Duffy  married  Julia  Carroll  on  January  15th,  1896. 

He  is  a  splendid  example  of  the  young  American  Irish  who 
have  done  so  much  towards  building  up  Chicago  and  the  West. 
Fearless,  vigorous  and  of  integrity  which  is  beyond  question,  his 
honorable  methods  have  succeeded  in  building  up  for  him,  while 
yet  in  his  early  prime,  a  very  large  business,  as  well  as  a  reputa- 
tion as  a  business  man  second  to  none  in  this  great  city. 


JOHN   JAMES   HENNESSY. 


The  career  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  illustrates  clearly  the 
possibilities  that  are  open  in  this  country  to  the  earnest  and  the 
persevering  who  possess  the  courage  of  their  convictions,  the  firm 
determination  to  be  the  architects  of  their  own  fortunes,  and  who 
absolutely  refuse  to  acknowledge  defeat.  The  success  he  has 
achieved  has  in  no  way  damaged  his  popularity,  every  one  who 
knows  him  is  his  friend,  and  nothing  is  spoken  of  him  but  un- 
grudging praise  of  the  efforts  he  has  made  and  the  result  he  has 
achieved.  Ever  genial  and  open-hearted,  the  popular  police  magis- 
trate of  the  Town  of  Lake  may  claim  a  popularity  second  to  none 
in  the  district  in  which  he  lives. 


220  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

John  J.  Ilennessy  was  born  in  1855  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  where  his 
father,  James,  who  was  a  native  of  Dungarvan,  County  Waterford, 
Ireland,  being  born  there  about  1826,  settled  after  arriving  in  this 
country.  This  was  in  1847,  and  after  living  for  ten  years  in  Buffalo, 
the  latter  moved  to  Cleveland  in  1857  and  died  there  in  November, 
1864.  He  had  married,  in  1854,  Margaret  Gorey,  born  in  1828,  also 
a  native  of  Ireland,  her  birthplace  being  the  parish  of  Thomastown, 
County  Kilkenny.  She  died  March  30th,  1893,  at  the  home  of  her 
son  in  Chicago.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  children,  and  of  them 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  eldest  and  the  only  son.  Of  the 
others  three  survive,  and  these  are  married  and  prosperous. 

Fatherless  at  the  age  of  nine,  the  grim  master,  necessity,  per- 
mitted him  but  scant  schooling.  He  secured  employment  at  the 
spring  making  trade  and  later  obtained  a  situation  in  a  rolling 
mill.  The  hardships  attendant  upon  this  labor  induced  an  attack 
of  rheumatism,  which  incapacitated  him  for  upwards  of  a  year.  On 
recovering  he  removed  to  Chicago,  at  that  time  the  Mecca  of  so 
many  of  the  bright  and  enterprising  young  men  of  the  East.  He 
quickly  secured  a  place  as  fireman  on  one  of  the  river  tug  boats, 
which,  however,  he  was  forced  to  resign,  owing  to  his  old  enemy 
rheumatism.  His  interest  in  religioiis  matters  had  in  the  mean- 
time secured  him  the  acquaintance  and  friendship  of  the  Rev.  Fath- 
er Dorney,  through  whose  influence  he  obtained  temporary  employ- 
ment as  janitor  of  the  parochial  school.  A  year  later  he  went  to 
work  for  Mr.  M.  W.  Ryan,  who  was  then  county  clerk,  and  subse- 
quently he  superintended  the  taking  of  the  school  census  in  the 
Town  of  Lake.  July  1st,  1884,  he  was  appointed  to  a  position  as 
clerk  in  the  office  of  Coroner  Boydon,  and  in  January  following  he 
was  made  deputy  collector  for  the  Town  of  Lake  under  Chris  V-eh- 
meyer.  In  the  spring  he  was  tendered  the  chief  clerkship  in  the 
office  of  Assessor  Bartlett,  but  declined  in  order  to  accept  a  position 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  221 

as  confidential  clerk  to  Thomas  Byrne,  now  of  the  well  known  firm 
of  Gahan  &  Byrne.  November  7th,  1885,  he  was  appointed  by  S. 
Corning  Judd,  then  postmaster  of  Chicago,  to  the  responsible  posi- 
tion of  Superintendent  in  charge  of  the  Stock  Yards  postoffice, 
which  position  he  filled  with  complete  satisfaction  to  the  depart- 
ment, until  he  resigned,  April  30th,  1889.  In  every  office  he  had 
held  general  satisfaction  had  been  given  and  greater  public  favor 
obtained;  the  Town  of  Lake  testified  its  further  appreciation  by 
electing  him  Justice  of  the  Peace,  in  April,  1889.  He  assumed  the 
onerous  duties  of  that  position  in  May  of  that  year,  and  has  since 
retained  it.  On  the  annexation  of  the  Town  of  Lake  to  Chicago,  the 
position  became  an  appointive  one,  and  in  1891  Mr.  ITennessy  was 
one  of  five  justices  appointed  for  that  district  by  Governor  Fifer. 
Jlis  term  expired  in  1895,  and  failing  to  get  the  recommendation 
of  the  judges  by  a  single  vote,  Governor  Altgeld  refused  to  appoint 
a  successor,  and  he  therefore  holds  over.  April  1st,  1891,  he  was 
appointed  Police  Magistrate  by  Mayor  Cregier,  and  has  succeeded 
himself  in  this  office  from  term  to  term  under  appointment  by  May- 
ors Washburne,  Harrison,  Hopkins  and  Swift.  His  sound  and  prac- 
tical administration  of  justice  and  preference  of  equity  to  mere 
legal  technicalities  having  become  recognized,  there  is  now  no 
more  popular  justice  in  Chicago.  Mr.  Hennessy's  duties  are  not 
comprised  in  the  necessities  of  court  attention,  but  other  business 
in  connection  with  his  offices  keeps  his  time  very  fully  occupied. 

Judge  Hennessy  was  married  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  June  9th,  1886, 
to  Teresa  F.,  daughter  of  Patrick  Burke,  long  of  that  city.  Their 
home  is  now  brightened  with  two  sons,  James  J.,  born  November 
8th,  1891,  and  William  B.,  born  August  7th,  1896. 

In  his  political  views,  Judge  Hennessy  is  and  has  always  been 
a  Democrat,  and  in  the  affairs  and  general  advancement  of  his 
party  has  a  prominent  and  active  part. 


222  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

John  J.  Heuuessy  is  a  member  of  Princeton  Lodge,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  Council  No.  1020,  Royal  Arcamim,  of  which  he  is  a 
Past  Regent.  He  is  also  in  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters 
and  holds  the  position  of  Past  Chief  Ranger  of  Court  Union  No.  41. 


THOMAS  KELLY. 


Thomas  Kelly,  one  of  Chicago's  most  esteemed  citizens,  who 
in  1896  was  honored  by  election  to  the  responsible  position  of  presi- 
dent of  the  Drainage  Board,  is  a  native  of  Providence,  Rhode  Island, 
where  he  was  born  January  3d,  1843.  His  father,  John  Kelly,  was 
from  County  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  as  was  also  his  mother,  Margaret 
Kelly.  John  Kelly  came  to  this  country  in  1832,  first  settling  at 
Providence,  R.  I.,  where  he  obtained  a  situation  as  a  printer  with 
the  old  house  of  Sprague  &  Co.  In  Providence  he  remained  until 
1845,  when  he  came  out  with  his  family  to  Wisconsin,  settling  on 
a  farm  there. 

The  education  received  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  not 
of  an  extensive  character,  and  consisted  merely  of  an  attendance 
for  three  winters  and  two  summers  in  the  common  schools  of  Wis- 
consin. He  was  then  taken  from  school  to  fill  the  place  on  the  farm 
of  his  eldest  brother,  who  had  married.  In  1861,  when  about  eigh- 
teen years  of  age,  however,  he  decided  to  come  to  Chicago,  and 
found  his  first  business  experience  in  working  for  packing  houses, 
among  whom  may  be  mentioned  Dixon  &  Hosmer,  afterwards  driv- 
ing teani  for  a  short  time  for  Brad.  Pease,  and  then  going  on  a  farm 
at  Blue  Island.  After  eighteen  months  on  the  latter,  he  was  for  a 


•      AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  225 

short  time  engaged  by  the  Michigan  Central  Stock  Yard  Company, 
and  at  the  end  of  that  engagement  helped  to  build  the  Pan-Handle 
track  from  Chicago  to  Crown  Point,  Ind.,  serving  in  various  capaci- 
ties. Later  the  young  man  accepted  a  position  in  a  grocery  store, 
in  which  he  remained  from  1866  to  1876,  when  he  was  appointed 
Superintendent  of  the  Brighton  Cotton  Mills,  and  in  that  capacity 
served  until  1879,  when  he  started  in  the  contracting  business  and 
followed  the  same  till  1889. 

Mr.  Kelly  had  in  1882  been  elected  on  the  Board  of  Trustees 
of  the  Town  of  Cicero,  and  in  September,  1889,  he  was  elected  to 
the  City  Council,  and  re-elected  in  1890.  In  November,  1892,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Drainage  Board,  was  re-elected  for 
five  years  November,  1895,  and  on  December  8th,  1896,  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  Board. 

Mr.  Kelly  is  president  of  the  Brighton  Club,  a  local  organization, 
near  his  home.  In  his  religious  views  he  is  a  Koman  Catholic,  and 
in  political  views  a  Democrat,  and  has  served  on  a  number  of  com- 
mittees and  other  work  in  connection  with  his  party,  to  the  cause 
of  which  he  has  been  a  most  liberal  contributor. 

Mr.  Kelly  was  married  on  November  14th,  1864,  to  Ann  McCa- 
hill,  of  County  Cavan,  Ireland,  and  they  have  two  children,  Rose 
and  Maggie,  the  former  of  whom  is  married.  The  same  residence  on 
Western  Avenue  has  been  occupied  by  him  for  twenty-seven  years. 

Now  in  the  prime  of  life,  Mr.  Kelly  is  hale  and  hearty,  and  shows 
but  little  sign  of  his  early  struggles  and  hard  work.  Distinctively 
is  he  a  self-made  man;  his  schooling  was  but  slight,  yet  he  has  man- 
aged to  acquire  knowledge  for  himself  and  has  risen  step  by  step, 
gaining  not  only  a  comfortable  competence  for  himself  and  family, 
but  also  the  respect  and  appreciation  of  his  fellow  citizens,  until 
he  has  been  elected  to  fill  one  of  the  most  responsible  offices  in  his 
adopted  city. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 


MILES   KEHOE. 


Among  the  men  who,  as  public  servants,  have  made  enviable 
records  for  their  faithful,  earnest  and  successful  efforts  in  securing 
beneficial  and  wise  legislation,  none  is  better  or  more  favorably 
knoAvn  than  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch.  An 
earnest  worker  for  the  advancement  of  his  party's  interests,  he  yet 
has  never  allowed  his  partisanship  to  interfere  with  his  efforts  in 
the  advancement  of  what  he  considered  best  for  the  interests  of 
his  constituents  as  a  whole.  And  in  every  walk  of  life,  whether 
public  or  private,  the  same  high  principles  have  been  found  to  gov- 
ern his  actions. 

Miles  Kehoe  was  born  August  15th,  1848,  in  County  Carlow, 
Ireland ;  son  of  Arthur  and  Winnifred  (Byrne)  Kehoe,  who  came  to 
this  country  in  1848,  locating  in  Chicago  the  following  year.  Ar- 
thur Kehoe  was  engaged  for  many  years,  to  about  the  time  of  his 
death  in  1877,  in  the  teaming  business.  Mrs.  Arthur  Kehoe  died 
in  1891.  Of  their  five  children,  two  survive,  our  subject  and  a  sister. 
Mr.  Kehoe  obtained  his  education  at  the  Foster  School,  of  which 
George  W.  Spofford  was  principal.  After  graduating,  in  1865,  he 
secured  employment  in  a  brick  yard  and  later  engaged  in  the  team- 
ing business  with  his  father.  His  affability  of  manner  and  strong 
personality  made  for  him  many  friends  and  resulted  in  his  elec- 
tion to  the  State  Senate  from  the  Third  Illinois  District,  comprising 
all  that  portion  of  the  city  south  of  Twelfth  and  east  of  Clark 
Streets,  in  1873,  he  being  the  youngest  member  ever  elected  up  to 
that  time.  His  services  in  this  capacity  were  so  eminently  satisfac- 
tory that  on  his  renoinination  at  the  end  of  his  first  term,  he  was 
honored  with  an  almost  unanimous  vote  from  the  district,  which 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  227 

he  continued  to  serve  until  1880.  During  this  time  he  was  for  four 
years  chairman  of  Committee  on  Municipalities,  and  secured  for 
( 'hicago  much  of  its  important  legislation.  Among  the  laws  he  was 
instrumental  in  passing  were  the  abolition  of  the  old  method  of 
town  elections;  the  building  and  loan  association  law;  the  back 
tax  law,  which  relieved  the  city  from  scrip  and  effectually  pre- 
vented the  tax  fighting  ever  since;  the  fire  and  police  pension  act; 
as  well  as  others  which  have  accrued  materially  to  the  benefit  of 
the  city.  He  has  a  lively  and  sincere  interest  in  all  that  pertains 
to  the  welfare  of  the  laboring  element,  and  introduced  the  first  bill 
looking  to  the  abolition  of  convict  labor  in  the  Illinois  House  of 
Representatives,  thus  instigating  an  agitation  which  has  resulted 
in  the  passing  of  many  laws  regulating  this  matter  in  the  interest 
of  free  labor. 

In  1878  he  was  nominated  as  Representative  in  the  National 
Congress  of  the  Second  Illinois  District,  his  successful  opponent 
being  Col.  George  R.  Davis.  For  a  period  of  six  years,  from  1880, 
Mr.  Kehoe  held  the  position  of  law  clerk  in  the  offices  of  Judges 
Gary,  Hawes,  and  Sidney  Smith,  successively,  and  this  association 
eminently  qualified  him  for  the  position  of  Justice  of  the  Peace 
and  Police  Magistrate,  to  which  he  was  appointed  by  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Cook  County  judges  in  1895.  In  the  interim  he 
had  pursued  a  course  of  law  studies  and  was  admitted  to  practice 
before  the  State  Supreme  Court  in  November,  1892. 

His  interest  in  political  matters  has  always  been  of  the  liveliest 
character,  and  he  was  a  delegate-at-large  to  the  Republican  Na- 
tional Convention  in  1892,  where,  in  accordance  with  the  instruc- 
tions of  the  State  Convention,  he  voted  for  the  renomination  of 
President  Harrison,  in  the  face  of  urgent  appeals  that  he  should 
disregard  these  instructions. 

As  a  representative  of  the  Irish  element  it  may  be  said  that  no 
more  active  and  earnest  worker  for  Ireland's  cause  exists  in  Chi- 


228  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

cago.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  convention  of  Irish  Nationalists 
held  in  Chicago  during  the  summer  of  1895  and  is  always  at  the 
front  in  matters  pertaining  to  the  good  of  the  "Green  Isle"  whence 
he  had  his  origin. 

For  many  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  National  Union,  hav- 
ing been  honored  by  the  latter  Order  as  president  of  its  National 
Assembly  of  1895. 

Mr.  Kehoe  was  united  in  marriage  in  1875  to  Miss  Kate  Murphy, 
of  Chicago,  who  died  in  1889.  Their  son,  Arthur  T.  Kehoe,  was  born 
April  14th,  1878,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  high  and  manual  train- 
ing schools  of  Chicago.  He  is  now  a  student  at  the  Kent  College  of 
Law. 

The  work  done  by  Mr.  Kehoe  in  the  past  is  more  than  sufficient 
guarantee  of  his  future  performance,  and  it  is  beyond  doubt  that 
those  he  has  served  recognize  in  him  a  man  worthy  of  the  fullest 
honor.  His  integrity  has  never  been  questioned. 


THOMAS  HENRY  KELLEY. 


The  name  heading  this  sketch  has  in  the  past  seven  years  been 
associated  with  very  many  of  the  largest  and  most  important  real 
estate  transactions  in  Chicago.  That  its  subject  has  attained  un- 
usual prominence  and  demonstrated  marked  ability  in  this  direc- 
tion is  seemingly  a  refutation  of  the  old  adage  that  "the  shoemaker 
should  stick  to  his  last,"  for  his  inclinations  as  a  boy  led  him  to  a 
widely  different  channel  of  usefulness,  and  his  career  as  a  "railroad 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  231 

man,"  covering  a  period  of  twenty-two  years,  was  no  less  success- 
ful than  has  been  his  management  of  his  present  business.  His  at- 
tention is  devoted  exclusively  to  transactions  in  real  estate  of  large 
magnitude,  and  his  great  capability  and  thorough  knowledge  of 
values,  coupled  with  many  years  of  business  association  with  cap- 
italists and  men  of  affairs,  render  him  a  valued  medium  for  the  suc- 
cessful carrying  through  of  real  estate  deals.  That  he  is  much 
sought  after  in  this  line  of  business  is  attested  by  the  fact  that  trans- 
actions covering  many  millions  of  dollars  have  been  negotiated  by 
him,  and  he  has  constantly  in  hand  one  or  more  involving  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  dollars,  notwithstanding  the  great  present  depres- 
sion in  real  estate  values. 

Thomas  H.  Kelley  was  born  at  Hales  Corners,  Milwaukee  Coun- 
ty, Wisconsin,  on  August  15th,  1847.  He  is  of  good  Irish  descent, 
his  great-grandfather,  John  Kelley,  a  large  linen  manufacturer, 
known  all  over  the  north  of  Ireland  as  Johnny  Kelley  of  the  Green 
Bushes,  was  a  native  of  County  Tyrone.  He  came  to  America  in 
1830  and  located  in  New  York  City,  where  he  carried  on  his  former 
business.  Moving  with  his  whole  family  to  Wisconsin  about  1840, 
they  formed  quite  a  colony  of  relations,  and  were  the  first  settlers 
at  Hales  Corners.  The  latter  is  now  a  suburb  of  the  City  of  Mil- 
waukee, and  is  about  ten  miles  from  the  heart  of  the  city.  John 
Kelley  died  about  1845  when  he  was  upwards  of  seventy-five  years 
of  age.  His  eldest  son,  Peter,  who  was  grandfather  of  Thomas  II. 
Kelley,  was  born  in  1800  and  came  to  America  with  his  parents. 
His  wife  was  Miss  Bradley,  also  a  native  of  County  Tyrone.  He 
was  a  prosperous  farmer,  and  died  in  1881.  The  eldest  son,  Michael 
Kelley,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  also  born  in  County 
Tyrone,  Ireland,  and  was  one  of  the  emigrating  family.  So  soon  as 
he  attained  his  majority  he  took  up  the  profession  of  a  school 
teacher,  but  afterwards  became  a  farmer.  In  June,  1846,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Ellen  Goodwin,  of  County  Tyrone,  who  died  in  1854. 

12 


232  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

Michael  Kelley  died  April  30th,  1894,  aged  sixty-six  years.  There 
were  two  children,  Thomas  H.,  of  whom  we  are  writing,  and  a 
brother,  John  B.  Kelley,  who  was  for  many  years  a  superintendent 
with  the  International  Great  Northern,  and  afterwards  with  the 
Texas  Pacific  Railroad,  and  is  now  dead. 

Thomas  H.  Kelley  received  his  first  education  up  to  the  age  of 
seven  from  his  mother,  who  taught  in  the  log  school  house  of  the 
Town  of  Lindon,  Cascade,  Sheboygan  County,  Wisconsin.  He  then 
attended  grammar  and  high  school  at  Fond  du  Lac,  Wis.,  gradu- 
ating from  the  high  school  there  in  1862.  He  afterwards  took  a 
further  course  of  studies  at  an  academy  and  college  at  Girard,  Erie 
County,  Penn.,  finishing  in  1863. 

His  first  employment  after  leaving  school  was  as  a  newsboy  on 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad.  His  earlier  instincts  had  turned  on 
railroading,  his  great  ambition  being  to  control  an  engine,  and  at 
the  first  opportunity  he  secured  a  position  as  a  fireman  on  the  Chi- 
cago &  Northwestern  Railroad.  After  serving  in  this  capacity  two 
years  and  a  half,  he  was  promoted  to  be  engineer.  This  occupation 
he  followed  for  seven  years  on  various  roads,  among  them  the  St. 
Louis,  Kansas  City  &  Northern;  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern;  the 
Philadelphia,  &  Erie;  and  the  Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe.  In 
1877  he  gave  up  engineering  and  became  a  passenger  conductor,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  six  years,  resigning  to  take  the  position 
of  train  master,  continuing  therein  for  two  years.  He  afterwards 
held  the  place  of  superintendent  on  various  roads,  and  finally,  hav- 
ing in  his  long  and  extensive  railroading  experience  witnessed  the 
possibilities  of  the  great  West  in  the  way  of  real  estate  transac- 
tions, he  resigned  this  position  in  1885  and  embarked  in  the  real 
estate  business  in  Kansas  City. 

During  the  famous  boom  which  shortly  followed  in  that  city, 
he  was  able  to  clear  a  quarter  of  a  million  of  dollars,  and  in  1889 
decided  to  go  to  Chicago,  a  city  which  had  always  held  first  place  in 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN   CHICAGO.  233 

his  regard.  Having  opened  up  offices,  he  has  since  conducted  his 
real  estate  business  with  unvarying  success.  Through  his  bauds 
have  passed  some  of  the  largest  deals  in  the  real  estate  history  of 
the  city.  Among  others  recently  handled  may  be  enumerated  the 
Plaza  Hotel,  for  $750,000;  418-20  Dearborn  Street, $140,000;  Thomas 
Building,  corner  Ellis  Avenue  and  Midway  Plaisance,  $160,000; 
The  Campost,  Varsity  and  Renfost  apartment  buildings,  at  $125,000, 
$100,000,  and  $300,000,  respectively;  the  Wayside  Inn,  at  Fifty- 
sixth  and  Jefferson  Streets,  $75,000;  the  Commercial  Hotel,  cornel- 
Dearborn  and  Lake  Streets,  $350,000;  the  Ogden,  corner  Leavitt  and 
Ogden  Avenue,  $50,000;  and  the  Nelson  (Kansas  City)  office  build- 
ing, $500,000.  In  vacant  properties  he  has  also  carried  through 
some  large  deals,  including  700  lots,  Irving  Park  and  Milwaukee 
Avenue,  for  $400,000;  200  lots  at  Fifty-fifth  Street,  $100,000;  and 
GOO  lots  at  Montrose  Boulevard  and  Milwaukee  Avenue,  $300,000; 
as  well  as  acre  properties  in  Chicago,  Cicero,  North  Shore  and 
northwest  portions  of  the  city  to  amounts  from  $50,000  to  $900,000. 
The  fact  that  he  is  able  to  refer  to  such  deals  and  that  all  connected 
therewith  are  willing  to  testify  to  their  entire  satisfaction,  as  that 
Chicago  bankers  and  other  men  of  high  financial  standing  have  no 
word  too  high  for  Mr.  Kelley  and  his  methods  of  business,  have 
placed  his  services  in  very  general  demand.  Of  large  trades  he 
has  made  a  specialty,  and  on  his  books  are  always  to  be  found 
estates  in  other  cities  to  exchange  for  Chicago  properties  and  clear 
and  free  property  for  large  equities  in  this  city.  From  the  time  he 
first  lived  in  Chicago,  on  the  corner  of  Wabash  Avenue  and  Ran- 
dolph Street,  he  has  seen  Chicago  grow  from  a  population  of  150,000 
to  its  present  proportions,  and  he  is  consequently  thoroughly  posted 
on  real  estate  values. 

Mr.  Kelley  is  vice-president  of  the  Wiseman's  Automatic  Safety 
Railroad  Switch  Company,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the  original  incor- 
porators  and  a  large  stockholder. 


234  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

In  politics  he  is  from  conviction  a  Republican,  and  upholds  the 
claims  of  his  party  with  all  his  strength,  although  he  has  never 
possessed  any  desire  to  become  an  active  politician. 

He  was  married  May  25th,  1876,  to  Miss  Addie  C.  Jones,  of  Albia, 
Iowa,  daughter  of  Dr.  John  Washington  Jones,  of  Mechanicsburg, 
Champaign  County,  Ohio.  They  have  two  children,  Leo  T.  and 
Charlotte  M.  Kelley;  both  were  born  at  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  the  first 
on  March  13th,  1886,  and  the  second  October  27th,  1887.  Mrs.  Kel- 
ley is.  like  her  husband,  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  while 
living  in  Kansas,  associated  with  Mrs.  Dr.  Bickford,  she  was  the 
means  of  building  a  church  and  parsonage  for  the  priest  at  Flor- 
ence, Kansas,  which  will  long  remain  a  memorial  to  their  religious 
fervor  and  Catholic  faith  and  liberality.  In  this  connection,  how- 
ever, it  should  be  said  that  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kelley  are  students 
and  investigators.  They  are  liberal  of  their  means  in  supporting 
all  good  works,  and  their  liberality  extends  to  their  religion  as 
well.  They  concede  to  each  man  his  right  to  seek  the  highest  and 
best  in  this  life  and  the  next  in  his  own  way.  They  have  charity 
and  love  for  all  men,  and  follow  the  teaching  of  Professor  Huxley 
in  the  precept  that  "one  should  rejoice  in  the  good  man,  forgive  the 
bad  man,  and  pity  and  help  all  men  to  the  best  of  one's  ability." 

He  is  a  man  of  striking  personality,  commanding  at  a  glance 
the  respect  and  attention  of  all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 
His  manner  and  bearing  are  those  of  the  brainy,  successful  busi- 
ness man,  and  he  thus  possesses  peculiar  advantages  for  his  chosen 
profession.  His  friends  are  as  numerous  as  his  acquaintances,  and 
with  health  and  life  spared  to  him,  his  career  in  the  real  estate  his- 
tory of  Chicago  is  destined  to  be  a  brilliant  one. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  235 


JOHN   CHARLES   HENDRICKS. 


John  Charles  Hendricks,  lawyer,  was  born  in  Freeport,  111.,  Jan- 
uary 10th,  1850.  His  father,  Thomas  Hendricks,  was  a  native  of 
County  Wexford,  Ireland,  and  by  trade  a  contractor  and  mason. 
Coming  to  the  United  States  in  1833,  he  settled  at  Freeport,  111.,  and 
died  in  1884.  He  was  a  strong  Irish  Nationalist.  He  had  married 
Margaret  Quigley,  a  native  of  Athlone,  County  Roscommon,  Ire- 
land, where  her  father  was  in  his  day  a  noted  hotel  keeper.  She  is 
still  living,  at  the  age  of  eighty. 

Thomas  Hendricks  moved  with  his  family  to  Joliet,  111.,  in 
1854,  and  there  the  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools.  Financial  reasons,  however,  compelled 
him  to  leave  school  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  at  once  he  set  to  work 
to  learn  the  printing  trade  in  the  office  of  the  "Republican,"  where 
he  remained  until  1876.  In  the  latter  year  he  left  Joliet  and  moved 
to  Chicago,  where  he  obtained  a  position  on  the  old  Chicago  Times, 
to  set  type  at  nights,  and  at  the  same  time,  during  the  days,  began 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Levi  Sprague.  In  1879  he  Avas 
granted  a  license  by  the  Supreme  Court  and  began  the  practice 
of  law. 

Mr.  Hendricks  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Forest- 
ers, the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  the  Knights  of 
Maccabees,  in  which  Order  he  has  filled  all  the  chairs  and  on  several 
occasions  represented  his  lodges  at  the  Grand  Lodge.  He  also  be- 
longs to  a  number  of  Irish  societies,  and  strongly  sympathizing 
with  his  kinsmen  across  the  sea  has  done  all  that  was  in  his  power 
for  their  relief. 


236  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OP    THE 

In  his  religious  views  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  belongs  to 
the  congregation  of  St.  Matthew's  Church,  while  in  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat.  In  political  affairs  he  has  always  taken  the  liveliest 
interest.  As  a  delegate,  he  has  attended  a  number  of  conventions, 
and  upon  every  occasion  spoken,  also,  considerably  during  the  po- 
litical campaigns. 

Mr.  Hendricks  was  married  June  18th,  1870,  to  Rose  Kane,  of 
Joliet,  who  died  August  19th,  1895,  leaving  a  son,  John  C.,  Jr.,  who 
is  a  graduate  of  Kent  College  of  Law  and  now  a  partner  with  his 
father.  The  firm  of  Hendricks  &  Son  has  been  a  very  successful 
one,  and  is  doing  a  large  general  practice  as  well  as  representing 
a  number  of  large  corporations. 


THOMAS  L.  HARTIGAN. 

Than  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  one  of  Chicago's  most 
rising  young  attorneys,  there  are  few  men  in  this  city  better  known 
or  more  highly  considered.  His  experience  has  been  wide  and 
varied,  and  he  possesses  a  rare  faculty  in  the  ability  to  make  friends 
and,  what  is  even  still  rarer,  a  strange  facility  in  retaining. 

Thomas  L.  Hartigan  was  born  at  Dedhara,  Massachusetts,  May 
tllst,  1861.  His  parents  were  on  both  sides  Irish.  His  mother  from 
the  County  Fermanagh,  and  his  father  from  the  County  of  "Limer- 
ick so  beautiful."  His  father  is  Thomas  O.  T.  Hartigan,  connected 
with  the  famous  O'Tooles,  while  his  mother,  formerly  Ann  Leon- 
ard, came  from  the  McCullenans.  On  each  side  the  families  were 
of  historic  stock,  and  in  the  story  of  Ireland  have  frequent  mention 
from  the  Chroniclers. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  237 

Mr.  Hartigan  received  his  earlier  education  at  West  Roxbury, 
Mass.,  and  at  Dedham.  He  afterwards  attended  the  grammar  and 
high  schools  of  Chicago,  and  having  passed  through  the  Central 
High  School,  was  sent — in  1880 — to  the  United  States  Military 
Academy,  at  West  Point,  N.  Y.  His  course  there  completed,  he 
returned  to  Chicago,  and  having  decided  to  take  up  the  legal  pro- 
fession entered  the  Union  College  of  Law  in  1884.  For  two  years 
he  was  in  the  office  of  Judge  T.  A.  Moran,  and  associated  himself 
later  with  Judge  Collins  for  a  further  two  years.  Admission  to  the 
bar  was  obtained  March  20th,  1885.  Through  all  this  time  Mr. 
Hartigan  continued  that  military  service  which  constituted  his 
chief  pleasure.  He  became  Captain,  Second  Infantry  Illinois  Na- 
tional Guard  in  1884,  and  was  Adjutant  from  1888  to  1890.  In  1889 
he  received  the  appointment  of  Superintendent  of  Letter  Carriers 
of  the  Chicago  postoffice,  which  he  held  for  two  years,  then  accept- 
ing the  position  of  Captain  and  Drill  Master  of  the  Chicago  Police 
Department,  retaining  the  latter  until  1893.  In  1890  he  was  made 
Major  of  the  Hibernian  Rifles  and  the  year  following  Colonel  of 
the  same  regiment.  In  1893  he  became  Captain  and  Adjutant  of 
the  Seventh  Regiment,  and  in  1896  was  offered  its  Majority,  but 
for  personal  reasons  thought  it  advisable  to  decline. 

Mr.  Hartigan  is  now  devoting  himself  entirely  to  his  profes- 
sion as  a  lawyer,  and  in  company  with  Mr.  Edmund  E.  McCarthy  - 
of  whom  there  is  a  sketch  elsewhere  in  this  volume — is  rapidly  mak- 
ing his  firm  prominently  known  in  this  city. 

He  is  a  member  of  several  societies — the  Ancient  Order  of  Hi- 
bernians, the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Royal  League,  and  the  Metric- 
Society  of  Chicago. 

In  his  religion  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  while  in  politics  he  is  n 
staunch  Republican,  favoring  the  protection  of  our  industries  and 
also  bimetallism. 

He  was  married,  January  12th,  1885,  to  Miss  Minnie  Belle  Mac- 


238  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

Kinnis,  daughter  of  Dr.  Thomas  MacKiimis,  a  well  known  physician 
of  this  city.  Their  happy  household  now  rejoices  in  three  children 
— Irving  Cress,  Raymond  Thomas,  and  Leonard  Wheeler. 

Mr.  Hartigan  is  a  man  of  medium  height,  pleasant  in  his  manner 
and  extremely  companionable.  lie  is  open-hearted  and  liberal,  and 
while  he  knows  how  to  appreciate  any  favor,  is  also  ever  ready  to  do 
a  friendly  service.  No  list  of  the  American  Irish  of  Chicago  would 
be  complete  without  the  name  of  Thomas  L.  Hartigan. 


FRANCIS  R.  COLE,  PH.  D.,  LL.  D. 


Francis  Richard  Cole  was  born  in  Chicago,  June  19th,  1871.  His 
parents,  Richard  and  Elizabeth  (Byrne)  Cole,  came  to  America  in 
1849  and  located  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  Later  the  western  course  was 
resumed,  and  Richard  Cole  settled  down  first  in  Milwaukee,  but 
finally  in  our  great  city  in  1859,  where  he  later  started  to  manufac- 
ture cooperage.  He  is  one  of  our  respected  citizens  and  has  been 
for  many  years  prominent  in  Masonic  circles,  the  Richard  Cole 
Lodge,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  having  been  named  after  him. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  a  famous  year,  and  has 
grown  up  with  the  city  which  saw  his  birth.  He  was  educated  in 
the  public  grammar  and  high  schools  and  having  determined  to  be- 
come a  lawyer,  took  a  full  course  in  that  department  of  the  Lake 
Forest  University.  He  completed  the  post  graduate  course,  taking 
the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  but  even  while  a  law  student  he  devoted  him- 
self assiduously  to  the  science  of  jurisprudence,  also  attended  a 
school  of  oratory,  and  later  took  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Philoso- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  241 

phy.  He  opened  up  a  law  office  before  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age,  and  later  was  at  the  head  of  the  law  firm  of  Cole,  Elliott  &  Bor- 
chardt,  but  at  present  is  practicing  alone.  He  is  a  great  reader 
and  an  earnest  student,  more  particularly  of  the  live  problems  of 
the  day,  and  is  thoroughly  versed  in  the  law.  In  the  fall  of  1892 
he  was  a  candidate  for  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court  on  the  Labor 
Reform  League  ticket. 

Late  years  have  been  given  to  the  cause  of  free  thought  and  the 
furtherance  of  universal  enlightenment.  Voice  and  pen  have  been 
devoted  to  the  imparting  to  the  people  of  a  larger  desire  for  scien- 
tific knowledge,  and  have  done  much  towards  opening  up  public 
discussion,  thereby  paving  the  way  for  social,  political  and  eco- 
nomic reform.  He  also  early  was  active  in  the  university  exten- 
sion movement.  In  1895  he  was  granted  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  He 
has  always  been  prominent  in  literary  societies,  and  has  held  vari- 
ous offices  of  trust  and  honor  therein  and  elsewhere.  In  religious 
matters  he  is  extremely  liberal  and  honestly  states  himself  a  free 
thinker,  that  is  to  say,  he  is  not  a  believer  in  the  orthodox  religion 
but  is  an  agnostic  of  the  Charles  Huxley  type,  and  has  practically 
demonstrated  that  his  rule  of  life  is  founded  on  the  truism  that 
"one  should  rejoice  in  the  good  man,  forgive  the  bad  man,  and  pity 
and  help  all  men  to  the  best  of  our  ability."  In  politics  he  is  no 
partisan  but  firmly  believes  in  the  Jeffersonian  and  Lincolniau 
principles  of  government  and  thinks  our  changed  and  evolved  in- 
dustrial conditions  need  a  new  application  of  the  old  principles. 
His  voice  has  been  heard  in  many  campaigns  expounding  the  sci- 
ence of  government,  and  pleading  for  greater  equality  of  opportuni- 
ties, political  reforms,  and  the  restoration  of  bimetallism  in  the 
United  States. 

Judge  Cole,  as  he  is  familiarly  called  both  from  his  dignified 
and  judicial  appearance  and  the  fact  of  his  candidacy  for  the  bench, 
is  prominent  in  a  number  of  societies  and  orders,  among  which  may 


242  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

be  mentioned  the  American  Secular  Union,  Freethought  Federa- 
tion, Anthropological  Society,  Patriots  of  America,  Society  of  Eth- 
ical Culture,  and  the  Co-operative  College  of  Citizenship.  The  last 
named  he  considers  one  of  the  greatest  and  broadest  educational 
movements  of  the  age,  and  one  to  a  greater  extent  in  touch  with 
all  sections  of  the  community.  Mr.  Cole  is  one  of  its  directors  and 
at  the  head  of  the  faculty  in  the  department  of  economics.  He  is 
president  of  the  Citizen  Sovereignty  Association;  is  lecturer  on 
7nedical  jurisprudence  in  the  Dutton  Medical  College;  and  on  the 
faculty  of  the  American  Health  University.  He  is  a  remarkable 
extemporaneous  speaker,  an  able  debater,  and  what  is  by  no  means 
an  ordinary  occurrence,  proficient  in  both  branches  of  oratory,  the 
forensic  and  the  popular,  and  frequently  speaks  on  patriotic  and 
memorial  occasions.  He  has  also  written  considerably  both  in 
prose  and  verse.  In  the  last  presidential  campaign  he  wrote  a 
powerful  pamphlet  on  the  conditions  of  the  republic  and  the  ques- 
tions before  the  American  people,  under  the  title  of  Civilization, 
Bryan  and  the  Times.  It  had  a  large  circulation  throughout  the 
United  States  and  was  very  generally  pronounced  one  of  the  great- 
est campaign  documents  ever  issued  in  the  history  of  American 
politics. 

Judge  Cole  was  married  on  the  19th  of  July,  1895,  to  Miss  Sadie 
Clucas.  One  little  girl  has  blessed  the  union,  Sylvia  Elizabeth. 

To  have  obtained  so  high  a  reputation  while  yet  a  young  man 
gives  earnest  promise  of  a  noble  future,  and  for  the  name  of  Fran- 
cis Richard  Cole  a  prominent  place  in  the  list  of  American  Irish 
who  have  helped  to  make  Chicago  the  greatest  city  in  the  United 
States. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  243 


EDWARD  H.  EGAN. 


Edward  TI.  Egan,  the  well  known  live  stock  commission  mer- 
chant and  exporter,  is  a  native  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  he  was 
born  September  15th,  1855.  His  father,  Thomas  Egan,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Ireland,  as  was  also  his  mother,  Ellen  McNamara.  They 
both  came  to  Baltimore,  Md.,  in  the  same  year,  1849,  and  were 
shortly  afterwards  married  in  that  city.  Early  in  1856  they  came 
to  Chicago,  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  six  months  old. 

Edward  H.  Egan  was  educated  at  St.  John's  School  and  at  the 
Holden  public  school.  He  left  school  when  eighteen  and  com- 
mencing active  work  as  yardman  for  Nelson  Morris  &  Company, 
after  four  to  five  years  in  that  position  he  had  so  gained  the  con- 
fidence and  approbation  of  the  firm  that  he  was  appointed  their 
agent  in  the  Pittsburg  Stock  Yards.  Here  he  remained  for  six 
years,  then  returning  to  Chicago  and  starting  in  business  for  him- 
self under  the  firm  name  of  E.  Egan  &  Company,  live  stock  commis- 
sion merchants.  The  venture  was  successful  from  the  start  and 
is  still  in  active  operation.  The  business  is  carried  on  by  Thomas 
M.  Norton,  Mr.  Egan's  partner,  as  he  himself  some  years  ago,  in 
1895,  accepted  the  responsible  position  of  buyer  and  manager  for 
Eastman  &  Company,  of  New  York,  transactions  of  between  six  and 
seven  millions  per  year  being  carried  on. 

Mr.  Egan  has  now  followed  the  same  line  of  business  contin- 
ually for  over  twenty  years,  and  has  achieved  such  a  thorough 
knowledge  and  proficiency  on  all  points  appertaining  thereto,  that 
though  still  a  young  man  he  is  generally  considered  an  especially 
sound  authority  on  live  stock  matters. 


244  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

Mr.  Egan  was  married  in  this  city  in  1880  to  Miss  Annie  Dona- 
van;  they  have  four  children,  two  girls  and  two  boys.  In  his  re- 
ligious views  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  in  politics  is  independ- 
ent. 

Mr.  Egan  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  the  Royal  League, 
and  also  of  the  Sheridan  Club.  At  the  present  time  he  is  inter- 
ested in  the  organization  of  a  new  Catholic  association  of  a  benevo- 
lent character.  Chiefly  in  connection  with  his  business  he  has 
traveled  through  much  of  the  United  States  as  well  as  Canada. 
While  his  tastes  and  disposition  are  decidedly  of  a  domestic  char- 
acter, at  the  same  time  he  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  organiza- 
tions mentioned.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  executive  ability  and  a  most 
genial  friend  and  companion. 


JAMES   KINCADE. 


No  Irish  American  in  this  great  city  deserves  more  credit  for 
what  he  has  accomplished  in  the  world  than  does  the  subject  of  the 
present  sketch,  James  Kincade.  He  came  to  this  country  without 
a  dollar,  yet  he  has  by  his  own  unswerving  pluck  and  untiring 
energy,  been  able  to  achieve  a  fortune  and  to  make  for  himself  an 
honored  name. 

James  Kincade  is  the  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Mahen)  Kin- 
cade,  respectively  from  County  Westmeaih  and  County  Wicklow, 
Ireland.  His  parents  came  to  New  York  in  the  year  1826,  his  father 
dying  in  183G  while  on  a  visit  to  the  old  country,  and  his  wife  fol- 
lowing him  seven  years  later. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  245 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  the  City  of  New  York, 
December  3d,  1832.  He  was,  however,  but  four  years  old  when  his 
parents  returned  to  Ireland  taking  with  them  their  son.  His  educa- 
tion was  not  of  an  extensive  character,  consisting  only  of  a  year 
or  two  in  the  cross  road  school  of  Peter  Dempsey,  then  a  noted 
teacher  of  the  district,  and  who  found  a  large  portion  of  his  remu- 
neration by  boarding  around  among  the  parents  of  his  scholars. 
The  death  of  John  'Kincade,  however,  compelled  him  to  go  to  work, 
at  the  age  of  fourteen,  and  for  two  years  he  found  employment  as 
a  carpenter.  When  seventeen  he  determined  to  come  to  America 
and  seek  fortune's  favors.  He  was  absolutely  without  money,  for 
everything  his  father  had  left  him  was  in  trust  until  he  became  of 
age,  and  consequently  he  was  forced  to  make  an  excuse  that  he 
desired  to  purchase  some  cattle,  and  in  that  way  was  able  to  obtain 
from  his  guardian  sufficient  money  to  pay  his  passage  to  America, 
where  he  landed  without  a  cent  and  with  no  friends.  Landing  in 
New  York,  he  immediately  went  to  the  court  house,  according  to 
the  custom  of  those  days,  with  the  other  emigrants  or  "greenhorns," 
as  they  were  termed,  and  waited  until  some  one  should  come  and 
offer  him  some  employment. 

A  baker  taking  a  fancy  to  him,  hired,  and  James  Kincade  stayed 
with  him  a  short  time,  afterwards  going  to  work  in  a  brick  yard, 
in  which  he  remained  about  four  years.  Afterwards,  for  two  years, 
he  worked  as  a  brakeman  for  the  Hudson  River  and  for  the  Erie 
Railroads. 

Coming  to  Chicago  in  1855,  he  went  to  work  for  the  Rock  Island 
Railroad,  then  building  the  side  track  from  Twenty-second  Street 
to  the  Junction,  and  was  later  a  brakeman  on  the  Chicago,  Burliug- 
ton  &  Quincy  Railroad.  His  next  employment  was  in  the  lumber 
yard  of  George  E.  Scott,  where  he  stayed  fourteen  years,  beginning 
with  the  small  pay  of  $6  a  week,  and  when  he  left  being  in  receipt 
of  $1,700  a  year  and  his  house  rent. 


246  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

Thoroughly  independent  in  his  disposition  and  character,  Mr. 
Kincade  determined  to  embark  in  business  on  his  own  account,  and 
in  1863  started  in  the  lumber  business  at  Lodi,  Kane  County,  111. 
There  he  was  but  two  years  when  he  sold  out  and  returned  to  his 
former  employ  with  Mr.  Scott,  remaining  until  the  latter  went  out 
of  business  in  1868.  Then,  looking  about  for  some  business  which 
he  might  take  up,  he  by  chance  noticed  in  the  papers  that  sub-con- 
tractors were  required  on  the  Riverside  Boulevard.  He  investi- 
gated, took  a  portion  of  the  work,  and  was  able  to  clear  fl,700  in 
sixty  days.  This  was  the  opportunity  he  had  so  long  sought,  and 
from  that  time  he  has  steadily  progressed  until  he  developed  into 
one  of  the  largest  contractors  of  this  city,  having  built  the  viaducts 
of  Van  Buren  Street,  Milwaukee  and  Desplaines  Street,  Taylor 
Street,  and  Ogden  Avenue.  In  addition  he  has  done  much  work 
for  railroad  companies  and  for  the  city,  and  also  laid  the  foundation 
for  the  mammoth  sugar  refinery  upon  which  several  other  con- 
tractors had  failed. 

In  religion  Mr.  Kincade  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a  regular  at- 
tendant of  St.  Mathias  Church,  while  in  politics  he  is  a  silver  Demo- 
crat and  a  member  of  the  Cook  County  Marching  Club. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  at  Port  Jervis,  N.  Y.,  October  31st, 
1854,  with  Margaret  Grannan,  of  County  Wexford,  Ireland,  whose 
grandfather  had  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the  Irish  troubles  of 
'98,  distinguishing  himself  at  Three  Bullet  Gate  and  at  Vinegar 
Hill.  A  woman  of  great  common  sense  and  untiring  energy,  she 
has  been  of  the  greatest  assistance  to  her  husband  in  his  battle 
with  life,  and  to  her  help  undoubtedly  a  great  portion  of  his  suc- 
cess is  due.  They  have  had  one  child,  a  daughter,  Margaret  A.  Fitz- 
gerald, who  is  married  to  the  signal  engineer  of  the  Chicago,  Bur- 
lington &  Quincy  R.  R. 

Mr.  Kincade  retired  from  business  about  four  years  ago,  having 
amassed  a  comfortable  fortune.  He  now  spends  his  time  between 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  247 

his  charming  home  at  the  corner  of  St.  Louis  Avenue  and  Central 
Park  Boulevard  and  his  farm  of  eighty  acres  at  Division  and  Har- 
lem Avenues. 

Both  his  wife  and  himself  believe  in  obtaining  all  the  enjoyment 
possible  from  life,  feeling  they  deserve  some  recompense  after  the 
hard  struggles  of  their  former  years.  In  1894  they  traveled  to  Ire- 
land and  have  several  times  visited  California  and  other  parts  of 
the  United  States.  A  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  courteous  ever, 
and  always  most  hospitable,  Mr.  Kincade  is  one  who  it  is  an  honor 
and  a  pride  to  number  among  Chicago's  American  Irish. 


JAMES  J.  AHERN. 


This  well  known  Captain  of  the  Chicago  Fire  Brigade  was  born 
at.  Buffalo,  Michigan,  April  17th,  1863.  His  parents,  Patrick  and 
Ella  Ahern,  were  both  natives  of  Ireland  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1845.  Having  remained  for  some  time  in  Chicago,  a  move 

was  made  to  Buffalo,  Mich.,  and  the  occupation  of  fanning  taken 

% 
up.    It  was  here  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born,  and  later  the 

family  returned  to  Chicago,  where  they  resided  until  their  death. 

James  J.  Ahern  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
St.  Pius  and  St.  Jarlath  on  the  west  side.  As  a  boy  he  took  an 
immense  interest  in  athletics  of  all  kinds  and  became  very  proficient 
in  swimming  and  other  sports.  He  left  school  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen, and  went  to  work  as  a  newsboy  on  the  railroad,  traveling 
between  Cairo,  111.,  and  Chicago.  Afterwards  he  found  a  place  in 
a  dry  goods  store  where  he  remained  until  he  was  seventeen,  when 


248  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

he  went  into  the  teaming  business.  At  the  latter  he  remained  from 
1878  to  1886,  in  the  May  of  which  year  he  joined  the  fire  department 
in  the  capacity  of  driver.  Four  years  later  he  became  pipeman,  and 
then  about  a  year  afterwards,  June  1st,  1891,  received  promotion 
to  lieutenant.  In  November,  1893,  he  became  Captain  of  the  com- 
pany to  which  he  had  been  attached  from  the  time  he  joined  the 
department. 

Captain  Ahern  was  married  in  1895  to  Sarah  A.  Ca&sidy,  a  lady 
of  Irish  birth  who  was  then  teaching  in  the  Chicago  public  schools. 

Born  and  raised  a  Roman  Catholic,  he  always  remained  faithful 
to  the  teaching  of  that  church.  He  is  a  member  of  a  couple  of 
friendly  societies,  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Firemen's  Benevo- 
lent Association. 

In  the  fire  department  he  bears  the  reputation  of  a  willing,  en- 
ergetic, and  most  efficient  officer,  and  among  a  host  of  friends  is 
esteemed  and  respected  for  many  high  qualities  of  head  and  heart. 


THOMAS  ROWAN. 


This  well  known  American  Irishman  was  born  in  1849  on  a  farm 
in  County  Kildare,  Ireland,  his  parents  being  Thomas  and  Bridget 
(ITickey)  Rowan.  His  education  was  received  in  the  national 
schools  of  Ireland  and  during  the  time  he  also  worked  on  his  fath- 
er's farm  until  the  Litter's  death,  when,  with  his  three  brothers,  he 
continued  to  carry  on  the  farm  until  he  had  reached  the  age  of 
nineteen.  Becoming  imbued  with  the  idea  that  his  own  country 
offered  insufficient  scope  to  a  young  man  of  energy  and  ambition,  he 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  251 

conceived  the  idea  of  emigrating  to  America.  Mr.  Rowan  landed 
in  New  York  in  1868  and  his  first  work  was  in  a  livery  stable, 
where  he  was  employed  to  groom  horses.  In  this  occupation  he  re- 
mained twelve  mouths,  when  anxious  to  better  his  condition,  in 
1869  lie  came  to  Chicago.  His  first  position  in  this  city  was  with 
the  street  railway  company  as  conductor  and  after  five  years  in 
that  capacity  he  entered  the  employment  of  Thompson  &  Wet- 
more,  wholesale  clothiers,  as  a  porter.  Every  duty  was  so  thor- 
oughly performed,  he  was  found  so  honest  and  true  that,  after 
four  years  of  service,  he  was  promoted  to  be  a  salesman.  With 
that  firm  he  remained  as  general  salesman  for  ten  years  and  then 
associated  himself  with  the  well  known  wholesale  clothiers,  Work 
Brothers,  in  1887,  to  take  management  of  the  uniform  department, 
a  position  he  holds  at  the  present  time.  Mr.  Rowan  tells  proudly 
that  in  all  the  twenty-four  years  of  his  connection  with  these  two 
great  firms  he  has  never  taken  a  vacation  nor  lost  a  single  day's 
salary. 

Thomas  Rowan  was  married,  in  1872,  to  Eliza  Birmingham, 
who  is  a  daughter  of  one  of  Chicago's  pioneers,  and  when  a  child 
used  to  live  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Palmer  House.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Rowan  have  two  charming  daughters,  now  twenty  and 
eighteen  respectively,  and  both  of  whom  are  graduates  of  the 
Academy  of  the  Sacred  Heart. 

A  Roman  Catholic  in  his  religious  views,  he  is  a  staunch  Demo- 
crat in  his  politics,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  League  and  also 
of  the  Knights  of  St  Patrick. 

Mr.  Rowan's  career  is  one  of  much  interest,  for  he  has  not  alone 
been  a  hard  worker  but  he  has  struggled  against  disadvantages 
that  would  have  baffled  any  man  not  possessed  of  unusual  energy 
and  really  extraordinary  courage.  He  is  an  example  of  energy, 
ambition  and  honest,  straightforward  endeavor. 

13 


262  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 


PATRICK   DOYLE. 

Patrick  Doyle,  Captain  in  the  Chicago  Fire  Department,  was 
born  at  Wexford,  Ireland,  November  17th,  1852.  His  father,  Mor- 
gan Doyle,  had  married  Elizabeth  Dillon,  and  followed  the  occu- 
pation of  a  sailor.  He  died  in  1889,  his  wife  having  preceded  him 
in  1878. 

Captain  Patrick  Doyle  was  educated  at  the  Christian  Brothers' 
School  at  Waterford,  Ireland,  where  he  left  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
years  to  take  up  the  life  of  a  sailor.  His  first  experience  was  a 
short  one,  for  he  determined  as  a  preliminary  to  that  career  to 
take  a  course  in  navigation  in  the  public  schools  of  Waterford. 
For  five  years  afterwards  he  followed  out  his  chosen  occupation, 
visiting  all  parts  of  the  world  and  finally  landing  at  New  Orleans 
in  1871.  Thence  he  came  on  to  Chicago,  where  he  obtained  the 
position  of  mate  and  sailed  the  lakes  for  another  five  years. 

Mr.  Doyle  joined  the  Chicago  Fire  Department,  September, 
1879,  as  pipeman  of  Engine  No.  13,  remaining  with  this  company 
for  two  years  and  then  going  to  Hook  and  Ladder  No.  6  as  a  truck- 
man. Being  there  twelve  months,  he  was  made  Lieutenant  and 
was  sent  to  No.  8,  serving  also  during  the  following  four  years  on 
Nos.  6  and  5,  and  then  becoming  Captain  of  the  latter.  In  1892 
he  was  made  Captain  of  the  fire  boat  Geyser,  a  position  of  consid- 
erable responsibility,  the  duties  of  which  he  has  fulfilled  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  his  superiors  in  the  department  and  of  the 
general  public. 

He  was  married  June,  1882,  to  Annie  Murphy,  also  a  native  of 
Ireland,  who  died  in  April,  1894,  leaving  three  children,  three  oth- 
ers having  preceded  her. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  253 

In  Irish  affairs  Captain  Doyle  has  always  taken  the  very  great- 
est interest  and  has  been  active  in  every  movement  for  the  allevia- 
tion of  the  condition  of  his  native  land.  He  is  a  member  of  a  num- 
ber of  Irish  clubs.  In  his  religious  views  he  is  a  Eoman  Catholic, 
and  a  member  of  the  congregation  of  the  Jesuit  Church,  on  Twelfth 
Street;  while  his  political  views  are  those  of  the  Democratic  party. 
His  honesty  of  purpose,  his  faithful  performance  of  every  duty, 
and  other  sterling  qualities  have  gained  him  a  host  of  friends,  all 
of  \vhom  bear  him  the  highest  respect  and  esteem. 


THOMAS  ABRAHAM  KENNEY. 


Thomas  Abraham  Kenney  was  born  June  4th,  1851,  in  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  of  Irish  parents,  for  both  his  father,  Patrick,  and  his  mother, 
Catherine  (Mulligan)  Kenney,  were  natives  of  Dublin,  Queens  Coun- 
ty, Ireland.  They  left  that  city  in  1847,  and  first  settled  in  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.?  moving  in  1854  to  Peoria,  111.,  where  the  head  of  the  family 
died  in  1861,  and  the  mother  in  1883. 

The  circumstances  of  his  parents  did  not  permit  Thomas  A.  Ken- 
ney to  obtain  much  in  the  way  of  education,  but  what  he  did  was 
in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town.  At  an  early  age  he  was 
compelled  to  leave  and  seek  a  situation  in  order  that  he  might  as- 
sist in  supporting  the  family.  Having  apprenticed  himself  to  a 
candy  maker  in  Peoria,  he  worked  at  this  trade  until  1866,  when  he 
determined  to  come  to  Chicago  and  see  what  fortune  that  rapidly 
growing  city  might  hold  for  him. 

Arrived  in  Chicago,  he  secured  employment  with  the  candy  man- 


254  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 

ufacturing  house  of  Scanlan  Bros.  &  Co.,  on  South  Water  Street, 
with  whom  he  worked  for  two  years,  at  the  same  time  attending  a 
business  college  at  night,  for  he  was  determined  to  secure  an  edu- 
cation in  order  that  he  might  improve  his  condition  in  the  world. 
At  the  end  of  two  years  he  became  dissatisfied,  for  his  employers 
refused  to  recognize  by  payment  the  fact  that  he  was  thoroughly 
qualified  to  earn  a  journeyman's  wages,  and  claiming  that  he  was 
yet  too  young.  He  therefore  left  the  firm,  in  1887,  to  become  a  con- 
ductor on  the  South  Chicago  Street  R.  R,,  in  which  employ  he  re- 
mained a  year,  and  then  going  into  the  newspaper  and  confection- 
ery business  on  his  own  account  at  the  corner  of  State  and  Fifteenth 
Streets.  Later  he  moved  to  the  old  Burlington  Hall  Block,  corner 
Sixteenth  and  State  Streets,  where  he  remained  until  the  spring 
of  1871,  when  he  sold  out  and  secured  an  appointment  in  the  postal 
service  as  letter  carrier.  His  diligent  service  procured  him  rapid 
promotion  through  the  various  grades,  until  in  1895,  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  important  position  of  general  foreman  of  the  City 
Delivery,  having  in  his  charge  all  the  clerks  of  that  division,  and 
it  speaks  much  for  Mr.  Kenney  that  he  has  been  able  to  hold  his 
position  in  the  postoffice  for  twenty-four  years,  and  through  six 
different  administrations. 

Mr.  Kenney  has  long  been  prominently  connected  with  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  and  for  two  years  was  Vice  Chief 
Ranger  of  St.  James  Court  No.  7,  while  for  six  years  he  was  Chief 
Ranger  of  St.  Ann's  Court,  No.  39;  for  three  years  financial  secre- 
tary, and  since  1883  Deputy  High  Chief  Ranger.  Out  of  nine  annual 
conventions  held,  he  has  attended  seven  as  representative  of  his 
court.  Twice  he  has  been  elected  president  of  the  Postoffice  Clerks' 
Association,  which  position  he  held  at  the  time  of  the  World's  Fair, 
when  it  incurred  great  responsibility,  and  plainly  showed  the  esti- 
mation and  standing  Mr.  Kenney  possesses  with  his  fellows. 

In  his  religious  views  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  a  regular  attend- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  255 

ant  of  St.  Ann's  Church,  and  in  politics  belongs  to  the  Republican 
party. 

He  was  married  in  October,  1879,  to  Mary  Duffy,  and  they  have 
had  six  children,  of  whom  five  are  living — Catherine,  the  oldest 
daughter,  is  a  very  clever  musician,  and  has  frequently  displayed 
her  talents  in  public. 

Mr.  Keuney  is  an  American  Irishman  of  whom  his  fellow  citi- 
zens have  every  reason  to  be  proud.  By  his  own  energies  and  per- 
severance, and  by  strict  attention  to  every  duty,  he  has  obtained 
for  himself  a  responsible  position  and  stands  high  in  the  esteem  of 
all  his  associates. 


WILLIAM  H.  BURKE. 


William  H.  Burke,  well  known  as  the  secretary  of  the  Forest- 
er's Building  and  Loan  Association  as  well  as  active  business  man 
of  this  city,  was  born  at  Castleton,  Vermont,  May  7th,  1860.  His 
father,  William  Burke,  was  a  native  of  County  Cork,  Ireland,  and 
having  passed  his  early  life  in  farming,  came  to  the  United  States 
and  settled  in  Castleton,  Vt.,  in  1846.  In  this  town  also  he  en- 
gaged for  a  number  of  years  in  farming,  but  eventually  went  into 
the  railroad  business,  in  which  he  was  occupied  until  the  time 
of  his  death  October  13th,  1883.  His  wife,  Mary  Welch,  was  also 
from  County  Cork,  and  died  in  this  city  in  the  fall  of  1896. 

William  H.  Burke,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  educated  in 
the  district  schools  of  Castleton  and  also  at  the  State  Normal 
School,  in  that  manner  obtaining  a  very  thorough  commercial 
training.  His  first  start  in  life  after  schooling  was  as  a  bell  boy 


256  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

in  a  hotel,  but  he  soon  secured  a  situation  with  the  old  and  famous 
house  of  Colgate  &  Co.,  soap  manufacturers  of  New  York  City. 
His  department  was  the  advertising,  and  in  its  interests  he  trav- 
eled all  over  the  United  States,  from  Maine  to  California,  spending 
in  the  latter  State  over  two  years.  Having  remained  with  the 
firm  for  nearly  eight  years,  he  came  to  Chicago  and  accepted  a  posi- 
tion with  Towle,  Carle  &  Co.,  wholesale  grocers,  traveling  for  that 
house  through  Illinois  for  two  years.  The  latter  place  he  gave  up 
to  accept  one  with  J.  L.  Hathaway,  the  well  known  coal  merchant, 
and  there  he  stayed  five  years,  taking  entire  charge  of  the  west 
side  branch.  He  resigned  January  1st,  1891,  to  accept  an  engage- 
ment with  Cenepa  Bros.,  macaroni  and  vermicelli  manufactur- 
ers, and  with  that  concern  he  still  remains.  At  the  same  time  he 
is  agent  for  a  number  of  representative  fire  insurance  companies 
who  are  doing  business  in  this  State. 

In  1889  Mr.  Burke,  with  a  number  of  other  gentlemen,  organ- 
ized the  Forester's  Building  and  Loan  Association,  and  was  chosen 
its  secretary,  remaining  such  up  to  the  present  time.  The  organi- 
zation met  with  very  considerable  success  from  the  start,  and  is 
now  in  a  flourishing  condition,  for  the  affairs  have  been  well  man- 
aged and  its  payments  have  always  been  prompt. 

Mr.  Burke  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  the 
Catholic  Benevolent  Legion,  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  the  Koyal 
League,  and  also  of  the  Columbus  and  Americus  Clubs.  As  has 
been  before  mentioned,  he  has  traveled  considerably,  for  during  the 
years  of  his  service  with  Colgate  &  Co.  he  visited,  he  thinks  without 
exaggeration,  nearly  every  city  and  town  in  the  United  States 
containing  over  five  thousand  inhabitants.  Mr.  Burke  is  a  Boman 
Catholic  in  his  religious  views,  and  is  a  Democrat  in  political  affili- 
ations. He  married  Anna  E.  Scott,  of  Clinton,  Iowa,  August  6th, 
1890,  and  they  have  two  children,  a  boy  and  a  girl. 

Mr.  Burke's  career  evinces  not  only  the  possession  of  high  busi- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  257 

ness  talents  as  well  as  executive  ability  of  a  very  high  order,  but 
also  of  industry  and  perseverance,  for  in  each  of  his  different  en- 
gagements he  has  been  completely  successful,  and  has  been  most 
highly  valued  and  esteemed  by  every  firm  he  has  served.  A  man 
of  good  presence  and  courteous  and  genial  disposition,  Mr.  Burke 
has  made  a  host  of  friends  whom  it  is  the  happiness  of  himself 
and  his  good  wife  to  entertain  at  his  pleasant  home  at  232  Belden 
Avenue,  Chicago. 


JAMES  AUGUSTINE   BYRNE. 


James  Augustine  Byrne  was  born  April  3d,  1871,  at  Armagh, 
Ireland,  where  his  father,  Owen  Byrne,  was  a  surveyor  and  a  prom- 
inent farmer.  The  latter,  who  died  in  1881,  had  married  Margaret 
Nugent,  one  of  a  family  who  took  a  most  active  part  in  all  of  the 
Fenian  movements,  and  who  is  still  living  at  an  advanced  age  in 
Ireland. 

Their  sou,  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  attended  the  na- 
tional schools  of  his  native  town  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  came  to  America  and  on  at  once  to  Chicago.  He  after- 
wards attended  the  Catholic  University  of  Niagara  Falls,  New  York, 
for  six  years,  graduating  there  with  the  degree  of  B.  A.,  and  later 
spent  two  years  at  Baltimore,  Md.,  University,  where  he  received 
the  degree  of  M.  A. 

Mr.  Byrne  went  to  New  York  City  in  1893,  entering  the  law  office 
of  the  firm  of  Weeds,  Smith  &  Conway,  with  whom  he  studied  law 
for  two  years,  and  was  admitted  to  practice.  Immediately  he  came 
to  Chicago,  opened  up  an  office,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 


258  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF    THE 

fession.  His  success,  when  the  length  of  time  that  Mr.  Byrne  has 
been  engaged  in  business  is  taken  into  consideration,  has  been  of 
a  very  decided  character,  and  he  is  already  in  the  enjoyment  of 
an  extensive  practice. 

In  religion  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a  member  of  the  congre- 
gation of  the  Jesuit  Church,  at  May  and  Center  Streets,  while  in 
his  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat.  A  young  man  of  energetic 
habits,  bright  ideas  and  pleasant  manner,  he  has  already  gath- 
ered around  him  a  host  of  friends,  and  there  are  few  among  the 
younger  generation  of  American  Irish  who  are  held  in  higher 
esteem  than  James  Augustine  Byrne. 


THOMAS  RICHARD  MELODY. 


Thomas  Richard  Melody  was  born  in  Shieldstown,  Lake  County, 
Illinois,  on  November  13th,  1841.  He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Ellen 
(Murphy)  Melody.  His  father  was  born  in  County  Mayo,  and  his 
mother  came  from  Tipperary;  they  met  and  were  married  in  Lake 
County,  111.  John  Melody  left  Ireland  in  the  early  thirties,  and 
settled  for  a  short  time  in  New  York  before  coming  west  to  locate 
on  a  farm  in  Lake  County.  A  man  of  very  frugal  habits  and  always 
most  industrious,  by  close  management  he  was  able  to  save  some 
money  and  to  take  a  contract  on  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal. 
His  wife  dying  in  1847,  he  went  to  the  mines  of  California,  where 
he  remained  until  he  went  to  Washington  Territory,  where  he  and 
his  partner  were  in  1865  killed  by  Indians  one  night  when  return- 
ing from  work. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  261 

His  sou,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  county,  later  attending  the  Chicago 
High  School,  where,  after  remaining  three  years,  he  was  compelled 
to  leave  and  work  for  his  leaving.  This  was  in  1864.  Having  se- 
cured a  position  as  clerk  in  the  postoffice,  he  has  since  continuously 
remained  in  the  same  employ,  being  from  time  to  time  promoted 
until  now  he  holds  the  responsible  position  of  accountant  of  the 
Chicago  postoffice.  This  position  has  been  his  through  the  admin- 
istration of  no  less  than  eleven  postmasters,  and  this,  notwith- 
standing the  fact  that  he  is  a  consistent  Democrat,  and  has  always 
been  faithful  to  his  party's  principle. 

Mr.  Melody  has  one  brother  living — John  P.  Melody — and  also 
a  sister.  The  first  named  has  an  important  position  in  the  money 
order  department  of  the  American  Express  Company,  and  his  sis- 
ter, who  is  known  as  Mary  Joseph,  has  charge  of  the  St.  Eose's 
Orphan  Asylum,  of  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  an  institution  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  finest  in  the  United  States. 

In  August,  1864,  Mr.  Melody  was  married  to  Ellen  Synon,  of 
Chicago,  and  they  have  had  nine  children,  of  whom  six  are  living. 
One  of  his  sons,  John  W.,  is  assistant  pastor  of  St.  Pius  Parish, 
and  on  account  of  his  many  great  gifts,  is  thought  to  have  a  noble 
future  before  him.  He  took  a  post  graduate  course  at  the  Wash- 
ington University,  and  graduated  with  the  highest  of  honors.  A 
daughter,  Genevieve,  who  is  a  teacher  in  the  South  Division  High 
School,  recently  graduated  from  the  Kent  College  of  Law. 

The  career  of  Thomas  R.  Melody  examples  the  possibilities  be- 
fore energy  and  industry,  when  combined  with  absolute  fidelity 
and  unquestionable  honesty.  Still  in  the  prime  of  life,  honored  by 
his  associates  and  with  friends  limited  only  by  the  number  of  his 
acquaintances,  he  well  deserves  a  place  in  the  list  of  Chicago's 
representative  American  Irish. 


BIOGRAPHICAL,    HISTORY    OF    THE 


PATRICK   JAMES   DONAHOE. 


Patrick  James  Donahoe  was  born  in  Chicago,  August  4th,  1850. 
His  father  was  Patrick  Donahoe,  a  native  of  Limerick,  Ireland,  who 
had  come  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  1847,  and  in  1852,  when  the  Illi- 
nois Central  Railway  was  built,  was  with  his  brothers  interested 
in  several  grading  contracts.  Patrick  Donahoe  came  to  Chicago 
in  1854  and  died  here  in  1891.  He  had  married  Ellen  Kehler,  who 
was  a  native  of  his  own  county  in  Ireland. 

Patrick  James  Donahoe  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Chicago,  but  being  compelled  to  find  work,  left  at  the 
early  age  of  fourteen.  For  six  years  he  found  employment  at  the 
stock  yards  and  for  two  years  afterwards  was  salesman  for  the 
commission  firm  of  Adams  &  Bush.  In  August,  1881,  he  secured 
an  appointment  as  truckman  in  the  Chicago  Fire  Department  and 
was  assigned  to  Hook  and  Ladder  No.  9,  at  the  foot  of  Monroe 
Street.  March,  1885,  he  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy  and  sent 
to  Hook  and  Ladder  No.  1,  at  Pacific  Avenue  and  Van  Buren 
Streets;  March  1st,  the  year  following,  he  was  sent  to  Hook  and 
Ladder  No.  9,  and  December  31st,  1888,  was  promoted  Captain  of 
Engine  No.  8,  at  Archer  Avenue  and  State  Street,  being  a  few 
months  later  transferred  to  Hook  and  Ladder  No.  9.  December 
31st,  1895,  he  found  still  further  promotion  as  Chief  of  Fifteenth 
Battalion,  with  headquarters  at  Oakley  Avenue  and  Thirteenth 
Street. 

Chief  Donahoe  has  been  mentioned  on  several  occasions  in  gen- 
eral orders  for  brave  and  heroic  conduct  at  fires,  nota.bly  those  at 
Clark  and  Monroe;  at  Wabash  and  Monroe;  at  Lake  and  Wabash; 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  263 

and  at  the  fire  at  the  Langham  Hotel,  Adams  and  Wabash  Avenue, 
in  March,  1885,  at  the  latter  of  which  he  assisted  in  rescuing  a 
number  of  lives. 

Patrick  J.  Donahoe  was  married,  October  26th,  1882,  to  Miss 
Catherine  Cahill,  of  Springfield,  111.,  daughter  of  Mr.  P.  J.  Cahill. 
They  have  had  five  children,  four  boys  and  a  girl,  but  of  these  only 
two  boys  are  living. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Maccabees,  the  Independent 
Order  of  Foresters,  and  the  Firemen's  Benevolent  Association.  In 
religion  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  belongs  to  the  congregation 
of  St.  Charles  Church. 

lie  is  a  man  of  fine  appearance  and  of  very  interesting  person- 
ality. His  strict  attention  to  his  duties,  his  unvarying  courtesy, 
and  genial  kindness  of  disposition  has  won  for  him  a  host  of  friends, 
by  all  of  whom  he  is  held  in  the  highest  consideration  for  his  ex- 
cellent qualities  of  head  and  heart. 


CHARLES  E.  CORRIGAN. 


The  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  one  of  Chicago's  representa- 
tive progressive  young  business  men,  was  born  Axigust  29th,  1863, 
in  Martinsburg,  Lewis  County,  New  York.  His  father,  John  Corri- 
gan,  a  native  of  Tyrone,  Ireland,  had,  with  his  parents,  emigrated 
to  this  continent  when  seven  years  of  age  and  settled  on  a  farm 
near  Kingston,  Canada*  When  he  reached  his  majority,  however, 
he  came  to  the  United  States,  purchasing  a  farm  near  Martins- 


264  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

burg,  Lewis  County,  New  York,  and  which  he  personally  conducted 
until  his  death  in  1889.  He  had  married,  in  1857,  Charlotte  Hef- 
fany,  the  mother  of  Charles  E.,  who  was  a  native  of  Martinsburg, 
but  whose  parents  had  both  come  from  County  Tipperary,  Ireland. 

Charles  E.  Corrigan  received  his  education  at  Martins  Institute, 
Martinsburg,  and  was  afterwards  sent  to  Lowville  Academy,  at 
Lowville,  in  the  same  State.  He  was  thoroughly  grounded  in  all 
the  subjects  comprising  a  sound  English  education  and  also  at- 
tained a  fair  knowledge  of  the  classics.  When  eighteen  he  taught 
common  schools  for  three  years,  during  the  intervals  of  farm  work 
and  his  own  general  studies.  At  twenty-one,  after  a  brief  experi- 
ence as  a  commercial  traveler,  Mr.  Corrigan  became  a  stockholder 
and  entered  the  wholesale  and  retail  house  of  Northrup,  Braslan 
&  Goodwin,  at  Minneapolis,  where  he  remained  until  1891,  when 
he  sold  out  his  interest  in  the  firm  and  decided  to  settle  in  Chicago. 

The  possibilities  of  electricity  and  its  greater  employment  in 
the  future  as  a  motor  power  had  always  been  to  him  a  subject  of 
most  exceeding  interest  and  now  that  the  opportunities  of  a  great 
city  were  before  him,  he  devoted  himself  entirely  to  enterprises  of 
that  character.  Finally,  in  1896,  The  American  Electric  Vehicle 
Company  was  organized  by  him  and  a  horseless  carriage  placed 
before  the  public  impelled  by  electricity  at  an  expense  compara- 
tively small  and  with  results  in  all  ways  entirely  satisfactory.  A 
full  plant  is  now  being  established  and  a  great  future  for  the  com- 
pany is  confidently  anticipated. 

He  is  an  active  and  a  practical  Roman  Catholic  in  his  religious 
views,  but  as  for  politics,  while  he  has  usually  voted  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket,  he  disclaims  any  idea  of  being  a  politician. 

Mr.  Corrigan  was  married  February  6th,  1895,  to  Alice  M.  Pot- 
win,  of  Austin,  Cook  County,  Illinois,  whose  father,  Henry  Potwin, 
had  been  one  of  Chicago's  pioneer  settlers.  They  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Euth,  born  February  llth,  1896. 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  265 

A  gentleman  of  kindly  and  courteous  manner,  of  educated 
mind  and  evident  sound  judgment,  Mr.  Corrigan  is  one  the  Amer- 
ican Irish  of  Chicago  are  proud  to  number  among  their  repre- 
sentatives. 


JOSEPH   E.   BIDWILL 


Alderman  Joseph  E.  Bidwill  was  born  in  Chicago,  February 
20th,  1857.  His  father  was  Richard  Bidwill,  who,  coming  to  Chi- 
cago from  Mitchelstown,  Ireland,  in  1840,  worked  as  a  merchant 
tailor  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  when  he  joined  the  army, 
giving  up  his  life  for  his  adopted  country  at  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg. He  had  married  Mary  English. 

Joseph  E.  Bidwill  received  his  education  at  the  Brothers' 
School,  and  afterwards  at  the  public  schools  of  this  city,  the  latter 
being  left  at  the  age  of  sixteen  to  go  to  work  in  a  box  factory.  In 
this  occupation  he  worked  three  years  when  he  was  fortunate  to 
secure  an  appointment  as  helper  under  the  State  Grain  Inspector 
at  a  salary  of  f  75  a  month.  When  he  resigned  fifteen  years  later, 
he  held  the  position  of  First  Assistant  Inspector  and  was  receiv- 
ing f  3,000  a  year. 

He  was  nominated  in  1889  to  represent  the  ward — the  Ninth— 
in  the  City  Council,  and  being  elected,  has  held  that  office  for  four 
several  terms.  Since  he  has  possessed  a  vote,  political  matters 
have  always  held  for  him  the  very  greatest  interest.  Every  oppor- 
tunity has  been  utilized  and  he  has  made  himself  a  distinct  power. 
Unswerving  in  his  fidelity  to  the  Republican  party,  he  is  a,  State 
Central  Committeeman  from  the  Fourth  Congressional  District, 


266  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  was  also  a  delegate  to  the  last  Republican  National  Conven- 
tion at  St.  Louis. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Ninth  Ward  Republican  Club;  of  the 
Order  of  Foresters,  and  of  the  Sherman  Lodge,  United  Order  of 
Workmen.  He  has  traveled  all  over  the  United  States  and  is  always 
a  pleasant  companion  and  a  thorough  friend.  In  his  religious  views 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 

On  September  14th,  1882,  he  was  married  to  Mary  Sullivan,  and 
they  have  had  five  children,  of  whom  there  are  three  living. 

Alderman  Bidwill  is  a  man  of  striking  appearance  and  of 
strong  personality.  His  hand  is  ever  ready  to  assist  a  friend  and 
his  voice  always  heard  in  the  cause  of  his  suffering  fellow  citizens. 
Open  hearted  and  strong  natured,  he  is  a  grand  representative  of 
his  race,  and  deservedly  holds  a  foremost  place  among  the  Ameri- 
can Irish  of  Chicago. 


WILLIAM  C.  FOLEY. 


William  C.  Foley,  one  of  Chicago's  representative  successful 
business  men,  is  a  native  of  Ontario,  Canada,  where  he  was  born 
June  2d,  1854.  He  is  a  son  of  Thomas  Foley,  who  was  from  County 
Cork,  Ireland,  and  was  by  occupation  a  carpenter.  The  latter  came 
to  Ontario,  Canada,  in  1846,  and  followed  his  business  until  his 
death  in  1883,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  seventy-eight.  His  wife, 
Bridget  Foley,  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  also  a 
native  of  County  Cork,  and  they  left  the  old  land  for  Canada  to- 
gether. 

William  C.  Foley  acquired  an  ordinary  education  in  the  na- 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  267 

tional  schools  of  Ontario,  and  being  of  an  enterprising  disposition, 
in  1870,  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  came  to  Chicago  to  commence 
his  business  career  and  to  seek  his  fortune.  He  started  in  as  office 
boy  for  H.  B.  Goodrich,  the  well  known  manufacturer,  and  step  by 
step  advanced  until  after  nine  years  of  efficient  and  faithful  service, 
he  was  given  an  interest  in  the  business  and  went  to  Cincinnati  to 
start  there  a  branch  house.  This  continued  until  1882,  when  Mr. 
Foley  bought  out  the  Cincinnati  branch  and  established  the  firm 
of  Foley  &  Williams.  The  following  year  the  new  firm  bought  out 
the  original  Chicago  business,  so  succeeding  H.  B.  Goodrich,  and 
Mr.  Foley  came  to  Chicago  to  take  charge,  leaving  Mr.  Williams  to 
carry  on  the  Cincinnati  establishment.  The  firm  was  incorporated 
as  the  Foley  &  Williams  Mfg.  Co.,  and  from  its  inception  has  been 
exceedingly  successful.  The  business  now  done  amounts  to  fully 
a  million  dollars  a  year,  and  goods  are  shipped  to  all  parts  of  the 
world.  Mr.  Williams  is  at  the  present  time — the  beginning  of 
1897 — on  a  visit  to  Australia,  in  the  interest  of  his  house,  the  firm 
having  extensive  transactions  in  that  country.  Upon  Mr.  Foley 
necessarily  has  fallen  the  chief  superintendence  of  the  extensive 
and  steadily  increasing  business,  but  he  has  still  found  time  to  deal 
quite  largely  in  real  estate  in  this  city. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Columbus  and  Sheridan  Clubs;  has  trav- 
eled extensively  in  this  country,  and  in  1889  made  a  tour  through 
Europe.  In  his  religious  views  he  is  a  Koman  Catholic,  while  in 
politics  he  has  always  acted  independently,  both  in  national  and 
local  affairs,  considering  it  wiser  to  choose  the  better  man  rather 
than  any  particular  party. 

In  1878  Mr.  Foley  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  J.  McNamara,  who 
was  a  teacher  in  one  of  our  public  schools.  They  have  nine  chil- 
dren, two  boys  and  seven  girls,  and  the  eldest  son  is  now  studying 
at  Notre  Dame  University,  South  Bend,  Ind. 

Mr.  Foley  is  a  splendid  illustration  of  America's  successful  busi- 


268  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

ness  men,  and  an  example  for  the  rising  generation  of  what  is  pos- 
sible to  energy  and  ambition.  In  his  career,  from  his  first  start  in 
life  as  a  boy  of  sixteen,  are  exhibited  not  only  brightness  and  apti- 
tude but  also  indomitable  perseverance  and  patience.  None  of  that 
restless  spirit  that  mars  the  career  of  so  many  has  ever  been  ex- 
hibited or  indulged  in  by  him,  but  plodding  along  in  the  very  first 
position  he  obtained  until  he  became  a  partner  in  the  firm  and 
eventually  succeeded  to  the  entire  business.  Now  in  the  prime  of 
life,  with  a  fine  constitution,  a  cheerful  and  sanguine  temperament, 
and  a  charming  family  to  occupy  his  mind  and  heart,  he  is  reaping 
the  reward  of  his  earlier  exertions.  His  tastes  are  decidedly  do- 
mestic, though  he  is  still  very  fond  of  hunting  and  fishing  when 
he  is  fortunate  enough  to  afford  the  necessary  time  for  such  recrea- 
tions. Mr.  Foley  is  the  happy  owner  of  one  of  the  finest  residences 
in  the  city  at  Grand  Boulevard  and  Forty-sixth  Place,  externally 
surrounded  with  a  broad  extent  of  lawn  and  gravel  walks,  and  in- 
ternally adorned  with  fine  works  of  art,  statuary  and  bric-a-brac. 


CHARLES  LEONARD  MAHONY. 

Among  the  most  promising  of  the  young  Irish  American  law- 
yers of  this  city  and  who  is  acquiring  renown  as  an  advocate  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  Charles  Leonard  Mahony.  His  father  was 
Daniel  Mahony,  a  native  of  County  Cork,  Ireland,  who  came  to  Can- 
ada in  1842.  In  Toronto  he  was  the  leader  of  the  Hibernian  Broth- 
erhood and  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  raid  on  Canada,  which  was 
to  have  taken  place  in  18G6,  but  he  died  in  Richmond,  Va.,  just  pre- 
vious to  its  taking  place.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  271 

was  formerly  Frances  Higgins,  one  of  a  well  known  Irish  family,  of 
Roscommon,  where  her  father  was  a  school  teacher  and  a  man  of 
very  superior  education. 

Charles  L.  Mahony  received  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Toronto,  later  being  given  a  course  at  the  university 
there  and  graduating.  Having  determined  to  make  the  law  the 
profession  of  his  life,  he  then  entered  Osgoode  Hall,  the  celebrated 
Canadian  law  school,  at  which  he  graduated  in  1883  as  the  Gold 
Medalist,  this  high  honor  having  been  given  but  once  before  in  that 
institution.  He  was  also  honored  with  two  scholarships  and  took 
honors  all  the  way  through  his  collegiate  career. 

Having  taken  up  the  practice  of  law  in  Toronto,  he  remained 
in  that  city  eight  years  and  was  successful  in  securing  a  large  gen- 
eral and  commercial  practice.  In  1887  he  went  to  Springfield,  Mas- 
sachusetts, where  he  practiced  law  until  April,  1891,  and  then  came 
to  Chicago,  having  after  due  deliberation  decided  to  make  that  city 
his  home. 

Mr.  Mahony  is  the  general  attorney  and  counsellor  for  the  Un- 
dertakers' Association,  and  also  for  the  public  administrator  of 
Cook  County.  At  the  same  time  he  represents,  in  a  legal  way,  many 
prominent  business  firms  and  corporations,  and  has,  in  addition, 
a  large  and  rapidly  increasing  general  practice. 

With  the  troubles  of  those  of  his  race  in  the  land  of  his  fathers 
across  the  sea,  he  has  always  been  a  great  sympathizer,  and  ever 
ready  and  willing  to  aid  by  any  means  in  his  power.  He  was  the 
president  of  the  Irish  National  League  of  Toronto,  the  head  and 
front  of  the  Parnell  Movement  there;  and  was  also  chairman  of 
the  Canadian  delegation  which  attended  the  Irish  National  Con- 
vention convened  in  Chicago  in  1887. 

He  was  married,  June  10th,  1894,  to  Agnes  Phelan,  widow  of 

Dr.  J.  Bruce  Phelan,  of  Chicago.    In  religious  views  he  is  a  Roman 
14 


272  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 

Catholic  and  a  regular  attendant  of  St.  Matthew's  Church.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a  Democrat,  and  while  not  of  the  active  politicians,  he 
is  yet  at  all  times  ready  to  go  out  and  speak  for  any  friend  who  may 
be  a  candidate  for  office. 


CAPTAIN  PATRICK  C.  FEENEY. 

Captain  Patrick  C.  Feeney  was  born  on  the  fair  green  of  Ballin- 
afad,  near  Strokestown,  County  Roscommon,  Ireland,  February  1st, 
1832.  He  comes  of  that  sturdy  race  of  Feeneys  of  Eannegly,  who, 
intermarrying  with  the  McDennotts,  the  McHughs,  the  Eyans,  and 
the  Walshes,  were  strong  rebel  stock  and  at  all  times  haters  of  the 
English  government.  Captain  Feeney's  father,  Owen  Feeney,  came 
to  this  country  when  the  former  was  only  a  year  and  a  half  old, 
leaving  the  boy  with  his  mother.  The  father  found  employment  as 
a  foreman  on  the  railroad  near  Toledo,  Ohio,  but  shortly  afterward 
died  as  the  result  of  fever  and  ague.  His  wife,  who  was  formerly 
Mary  Ryan,  with  her  son,  continued  to  live  with  his  mother  until 
the  boy  was  sixteen  years  old,  when  he  came  to  this  country  to  an 
uncle,  John  Feeney,  who  was  then  a  foreman  in  the  coal  mines 
near  Pottsville,  Pa.,  by  whom  he  was  sent  to  school.  His  uncle,  as- 
sociated with  a  Mr.  Blessington,  having  taken  a  contract  on  the 
railroad  then  being  built  from  Harrisburg  to  Reading,  Patrick  was 
given  his  first  employment  in  caring  for  tools  and  other  light  work, 
and  for  this  he  was  paid  one  dollar  a  day,  and  at  that  work  he  con- 
tinued for  one  year,  when  the  contract  was  completed.  With  his 
uncle  Frank  he  came  to  Altoona,  Pa.,  where  he  was  employed  as 
night  clerk  in  the  new  hotel  then  being  built,  and  there  spent  two 
years.  In  November,  1852,  he  started  west  for  Chicago,  and,  hav- 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  273 

ing  kno\vledge  of  the  hotel  business,  obtained  employment  from 
Stevens  &  Willard,  proprietors  of  the  Matteson  House,  corner  of 
Randolph  and  Dearborn  Streets,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
Bissel  &  Goodrich  purchased  the  hotel,  and  he  was  given  the  posi- 
tion of  steward  at  a  salary  of  $75  per  month.  In  this  capacity  he 
remained  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  in  1861,  when  he  re- 
cruited a  company  for  Col.  Mulligan's  Twenty-third  Regiment. 
This  regiment  the  government  would  not  accept  at  the  time,  as  the 
call  made  by  President  Lincoln  was  for  only  75,000  men,  and  that 
number  having  volunteered  from  the  different  States,  so  many 
regiments  being  supplied  by  each,  the  quota  for  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois was  full,  and  accordingly  the  Captain  disbanded  his  company. 
Another  call  was  issued  by  President  Lincoln  for  300,000  more 
troops,  and  Captain  Feeney  recruited  Company  "F"  for  the  Nine- 
tieth Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers,  which  became  known  as  the 
Irish  Legion,  or  Father  Dunne's  Regiment  While  he  was  recruit- 
ing this  company  the  business  men  at  and  near  the  corner  of  Dear- 
born and  Randolph  Streets  presented  him  with  a  sword,  sash  and 
belt  costing  $300,  which  he  still  possesses,  after  carrying  them 
through  thirty-two  battles  and  some  hundreds  of  skirmishes  under 
the  command  of  Generals  Corse,  Hazen,  Logan,  Sherman  and 
Grant,  from  1862  to  1865,  his  most  prominent  battles  being  Ray- 
mond, Champion  Hills,  Big  Black  River,  Vicksburg  (which  fell 
July  4th,  18(53,  when  the  Confederate  General  Pemberton  surren- 
dered with  32,000  men),  and  Jackson — fighting  and  skirmishing  for 
five  months.  After  this  series  of  engagements  Captain  Feeney's 
command  went  into  camp  for  two  months  near  the  Big  Black 
River,  the  Captain  himself  being  wounded.  The  regiment  of  which 
his  company  formed  a  part  went  by  boat  to  Memphis  on  its  way  to 
Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge.  The  train  on  which 
General  Sherman  was  being  conveyed  to  Lookout  Mountain,  with 
an  escort  of  the  Thirteenth  Regulars  and  the  garrison  of  the  town 


274  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 

(Sixty-sixth  Indiana),  was  surrounded  and  attacked  by  3,000  Con- 
federate cavalry,  with  eight  guns,  under  command  of  General  Chal- 
mers, at  Collierville,  Tenn.  The  Ninetieth  Regiment  was  tele* 
graphed  for  by  General  Sherman,  this  regiment  being  at  the  head  of 
the  column,  and,  under  command  of  Colonel  O'Meara,  was  hurried 
forward  to  Collierville.  When  within  one-half  mile  of  Collierville, 
Colonel  O'Meara  ordered  Captain  Feeney  to  take  his  company  and 
deploy,  the  regiment  forming  in  line  of  battle,  following  him  up. 
At  Captain  Feeney's  approach,  the  Confederates  gave  way  and 
Sherman  was  enabled  to  proceed  on  his  journey,  as  did  the  Nine- 
tieth Regiment,  which  accomplished  a  tiresome  march  of  four  hun- 
dred miles  before  reaching  Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary 
Ridge.  Arriving  at  Trenton  Valley,  opposite  the  Lookout  Moun- 
tain range,  camp  fires  were  built  after  dark  in  sufficient  numbers 
to  represent  a  large  body  of  troops,  and  in  the  building  of  these 
fires  Captain  Feeney  actively  participated.  The  ruse  was  success- 
ful, and  the  enemy  extended  his  line  to  the  left  The  next  morn- 
ing Captain  Feeney,  with  his  command,  moved  through  the  valley 
under  the  Lookout  Mountain  range  toward  Chattanooga;  on  the 
morning  of  the  24th  of  November  crossed  the  Tennessee  River,  and 
on  the  25th  was  engaged  in  the  desperate  struggle  of  Missionary 
Ridge,  having  command  of  the  skirmish  line  and  losing  eighteen 
of  his  company.  Among  those  of  the  Ninetieth  who  lost  their 
lives  were  Colonel  O'Meara,  several  officers  and  many  men. 

From  Missionary  Ridge  the  Captain  and  his  regiment  hurried  to 
the  relief  of  Burnside  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  at  a  distance  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles;  then  returned  and  went  into  camp  at 
Scottsboro,  Ala.,  performing  another  march  of  three  hundred  and 
fifty  miles,  with  only  such  rations  as  forage  provided,  and  in  an 
almost  incessant  fall  of  rain  or  snow.  In  May,  1864,  the  command 
moved  toward  Atlanta,  engaging  in  a  lively  battle  at  Resaca;  had 
a  skirmish  at  Dallas;  fought  at  New  Hope  Church,  Big  Shanty, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  275 

Kenesaw  Mountain,  Marietta,  Nickajack  Creek  and  Rosswell, 
crossing  the  Chattahoochie  River  July  9th,  and  on  the  22d  of  the 
same  month  was  engaged  in  one  of  the  most  desperate  battles  of 
the  campaign  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  Atlanta.  In  this 
engagement  General  McPherson  was  killed.  On  the  27th,  Captain 
Feeney's  command  moved  from  the  left  to  the  extreme  right  of 
Sherman's  army,  and  on  the  following  day  another  hot  battle  was 
fought,  during  the  progress  of  which  Captain  Feeney  and  a  num- 
ber of  his  men  were  seriously  wounded.  Being  unable,  in  conse- 
quence of  his  wounds,  to  take  his  command  to  the  sea,  he  obtained 
a  leave  of  absence  to  come  home,  and  by  a  special  order  of  the  War 
Department,  remained  in  Chicago  three  months,  being  detailed  on 
a  military  commission  at  Camp  Douglas.  Wearied  of  the  inac- 
tivity of  camp  life,  he  asked  to  be  relieved,  but  General  Sweet,  who 
had  command  of  Camp  Douglas,  declined  to  assume  authority;  so 
that  Captain  Feeney  had  to  make  written  application  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  War,  in  reply  to  which  an  order  came  relieving  him  and 
ordering  him  to  report  to  his  regiment. 

Arriving  at  Nashville  he  was  unable  to  proceed  further,  the 
railroad  being  cut  and  torn  up  between  that  city  and  his  command, 
which  was  with  the  regiment  in  the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps.  At  the 
time  General  Hood  was  investing  Nashville  with  40,000  to  50,000 
men,  and  Captain  Feeney  was  placed  in  command  of  a  battalion 
of  the  Provisional  Division,  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  composed  of 
recruits,  soldiers  on  furlough,  and  those  recovering  from  their 
wounds,  making  their  way  to  the  several  commands,  and  he  par- 
ticipated in  the  engagement  at  Nashville.  After  the  battle  orders 
were  received  to  go  by  boats  to  Louisville  and  Cincinnati,  thence 
by  rail  to  Indianapolis,  Pittsburg,  Baltimore,  Annapolis,  Md.. 
where  boat  was  taken  for  Newbern,  N.  C.  Within  four  miles  of 
Kingston,  the  Confederate  Army  again  attacked  early  in  the 
morning;  but  General  Sherman,  closely  watching  and  noting  the 


276  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OP    THE 

movements  of  the  enemy,  sent  two  divisions  of  the  Twenty-third 
Army  Corps  to  assist,  under  General  Cox,  who  took  command  of 
the  detachment.  The  enemy  was  defeated,  driven  across  the  Neuce 
River,  and  out  of  Kingston,  this  being  the  last  battle  of  the  war; 
and  General  Cox  gave  orders  to  Captain  Feeney  to  take  charge  of 
Kingston  with  his  command,  and  there  he  held  until,  in  five  days, 
the  whole  army  under  General  Cox  had  made  pontoons  and  crossed 
the  river;  thence  on  to  Goldsboro,  where  the  men  met  their  vari- 
ous commands.  From  Goldsboro  they  went  to  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  where 
they  confronted  General  Johnston,  in  command  of  the  Confederate 
Army.  About  that  time — in  the  month  of  April,  1865 — President 
Lincoln  was  assassinated,  and  General  Lee  having  surrendered  to 
General  Grant,  the  war  was  over.  Captain  Feeney  with  his  com- 
pany marched  to  Petersburg,  Va.,  to  Richmond,  and  around  to 
Washington,  participating  in  the  Grand  Review  of  Sherman's 
Army,  at  Washington,  May  24th,  1865.  He  had  left  Chicago  with 
one  hundred  men  and  returned  with  only  eleven. 

Of  Captain  Feeney  as  a  soldier  it  would  be  impossible  to  speak 
in  too  high  terms.  Through  the  hardships  of  the  long  campaigns 
no  complaint  was  ever  heard  from  him,  and  when  fighting  was  to 
be  done  he  was  always  found  at  the  front.  Twice  was  he  wounded, 
at  Vicksburg  and  Atlanta. 

After  the  war  he  returned  to  Chicago,  and  in  1865  was  appointed 
a  Deputy  Sheriff,  a  position  he  held  until  the  great  fire  in  1871. 
While  in  the  Sheriff's  office,  Captain  Feeney  attended  the  Chicago 
College  of  Law,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1870,  and  commenced 
to  practice  the  following  year.  He  has  met  with  success  and  enjoys 
a  large  general  practice. 

From  his  earlier  years  Captain  Feeney  has  been  closely  asso- 
ciated with  every  movement  designed  to  effect  the  liberation  of 
Ireland,  and  the  hope  of  such  a  struggle  has  commanded  his  entire 
sympathy  and  has  gained  his  very  active  co-operation.  He  was  the 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  277 

first  secretary  of  the  old  Phoenix  Society,  in  1858,  and  was  con- 
nected with  that  society  until  the  Fenians  organized,  when  he 
joined  them,  and  he  is  still  a  member  of  the  last  named  organiza- 
tion. During  the  war,  while  at  Scottsboro,  Ala.,  he  organized  a 
Fenian  circle  among  the  soldiers  there  and  collected  f  500  which 
was  sent  to  the  treasurer  of  the  Fenian  Brotherhood.  From  1855 
to  1861,  Captain  Feeney  was  a  member  of  the  Emmet  Guards,  a 
Chicago  military  organization. 

Captain  Feeney  was  married  in  1858  to  Delia  Phillips,  and  they 
have  had  six  children,  of  whom  two  are  living,  and  the  elder,  Wil- 
liam P.  Feeney,  is  a  civil  engineer. 


CHARLES  A.  FANNING. 

Charles  A.  Fanning  adds  another  member  to  the  legal  profes- 
sion in  which  so  many  of  Irish  descent  have  achieved  fortune  and 
distinction. 

Born  October  7th,  1848,  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  he  is  the  son  of 
Patrick  and  Rose  (O'Donnell)  Fanning,  his  father  being  a  promi- 
nent cut  stone  contractor  in  that  city  from  1858  to  the  time  of  his 
death  in  1887. 

Charles  A.  Fanning  was  educated  at  St.  Louis  University,  gradu- 
ating thence  in  June,  1869.  For  one  year  afterwards  he  taught 
school  in  central  Illinois,  but  believing  he  possessed  the  special  abil- 
ities necessary  to  a  successful  career  in  the  legal  profession,  he  then 
came  to  Chicago  and  entered  the  Union  College  of  Law.  Mr.  Fan- 
ning was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  September,  1875,  and  immediately 
began  to  practice  law  with  Mr.  Dennis  J.  Hogan,  remaining  with 
him  until  1891,  when  he  associated  himself  with  Mr.  Ilerdlicka. 


278  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

In  his  religious  views,  Mr.  Fanning  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  while 
in  politics  he  belongs  to  that  large  section  of  the  Democratic  party 
which  favors  sound  money. 

He  was  married,  June,  1876,  at  Fairbury,  111.,  to  Julia  Ansbury, 
and  their  union  has  been  blessed  with  one  daughter,  Adele,  a 
charming  young  lady,  who  possesses  much  popularity  in  social 
circles. 

Mr.  Fanning,  who  is  of  an  intensely  studious  nature,  finds  his 
greatest  pleasure  in  literary  and  artistic  pursuits.  Having  become 
interested  in  mining  matters,  he  traveled  extensively  through  the 
mining  districts  of  the  West  and  also  through  Mexico. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  Chancellor 
Commander,  Excelsior  Lodge  No.  3,  Chicago,  having  passed  through 
all  degrees  from  prelate.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Illinois  Council  of 
the  Royal  Arcanum. 


PATRICK  THOMAS   BARRY. 


The  subject  of  the  present  sketch  is  a  very  thorough  representa- 
tive of  the  American  citizen  of  Irish  birth,  loyal  to  the  land  of  his 
birth  and  his  forefathers  but  devoted  heart  and  soul  to  the  inter- 
ests of  the  country  of  his  adoption,  in  which  he  has  found  true  free- 
dom, comfort,  and  a  home. 

P.  T.  Barry  was  born  at  Lehinch,  County  Clare,  Ireland,  in  1846, 
his  parents  being  Garret  and  Catherine  (Mullin)  Barry.  The  fam- 
ily is  of  Norman  descent  and  is  traced  to  the  Barrys  who  settled  in 
Buttevant,  County  Cork,  shortly  after  the  Anglo-Norman  invasion. 

Young  Barry  obtained  his  education  in  the  Christian  Brothers' 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN   CHICAGO.  281 

Schools  and  when  eighteen  decided  to  come  to  America  and  to  take 
up  journalism  as  a  profession.  His  first  engagement  was  as  editor 
of  the  "Nonpareil,"  at  Council  Bluffs,  la.,  which  he  gave  up  shortly 
afterwards  for  a  place  on  the  "Iowa  State  Register,"  at  Des  Moines. 
Here,  under  the  training  of  the  proprietor  and  editor-in-chief,  James 
S.  Clarksou,  he  obtained  a  thorough  insight  into  his  profession,  and 
at  the  same  time  secured  considerable  prominence  in  Republican 
politics. 

He  decided  to  settle  in  Chicago  in  1874,  and  found  a  suitable 
location  in  Englewood,  where  he  has  since  that  time  resided.  He 
secured  election  to  the  Illinois  Legislature  six  years  later — in  1879. 
In  1887  the  honored  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  was  evinced 
by  his  election  as  School  Treasurer  of  District  No.  2,  which  com- 
prised the  Towns  of  Lake  and  Hyde  Park,  and  this  position  he  re- 
tained until  the  annexation  of  the  district  to  the  city,  in  1890. 

For  many  years  past  Mr.  Barry  has  been  associated  with  the 
Chicago  Newspaper  Union,  a  corporation  whose  headquarters  are 
in  Chicago  and  with  branch  publishing  houses  in  several  of  the 
Western  States.  From  Ohio  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  some  fifteen 
hundred  different  newspapers  are  supplied  by  this  corporation 
with  news  and  up-to-date  material,  and  to  the  enterprise  and  pro- 
found business  qualifications  of  Mr.  Barry,  unquestionably  the  Chi- 
cago Newspaper  Union  owes  much  of  its  prosperous  position. 

Mr.  Barry  is  President  of  the  Indiana  Mineral  Springs,  a  sani- 
tarium near  Attica,  Ind.,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  founders,  and 
is  also  a  Director  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Englewood.  He 
has  traveled  extensively,  having  frequently  covered  all  portions 
of  the  United  States,  and  a  few  years  since  he  made  a  complete 
tour  of  Ireland,  England,  and  the  continent  of  Europe. 

In  his  religion  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  in  his  political 
views,  as  has  been  before  mentioned,  a  Republican.  Mr.  Barry  was 
married,  in  1869,  to  Miss  Rebecca  Riley,  of  Girard,  Penn.,  a  mem- 


282  BIOGRAPHICAL,   HISTORY   OP    THE 

ber  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Western  Pennsylvania,  on  the 
shores  of  Lake  Erie.  Their  family  consists  of  seven  children,  two 
sons  and  five  daughters,  the  eldest  of  whom  is  married  to  James 
Phillip  Hanley,  for  nine  consecutive  years  City  Treasurer  of  Erie, 

Penn. 

A  life  member  of  the  Press  dub  of  Chicago,  Mr.  Barry  belongs 
to  the  Columbus  and  the  Harvard  Clubs. 

Personally  he  is  a  man  of  great  charm,  his  educational  gifts 
are  of  a  high  order,  and  he  shines  greatly  as  a  conversationalist. 
There  are  few  men  in  Chicago  better  known  or  more  highly  con- 
sidered, and  if  as  a  successful  man  his  business  qualifications  have 
obtained  worthy  recognition,  he  is  none  the  less  esteemed  and 
honored  by  his  thousands  of  friends  and  acquaintances  as  the  pos- 
sessor of  the  highest  principles  of  honor  and  rectitude,  of  fidelity  to 
his  word,  and  generous  and  noble-hearted,  at  no  time  deaf  to  the 
plea  of  the  needy  or  the  suffering. 


JOHN   J.   FLINN. 


Throughout  the  newspaper  world  of  the  West,  it  is  doubtful  if 
there  is  to-day  any  member  of  the  literary  craft  better  known  or 
more  highly  considered  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  John  J. 
Flinn.  Kindly  natured  and  generous  in  his  disposition  and  at  all 
times  thoughtful  for  others,  he  is  the  man  of  a  thousand,  whose 
friends  are  numbered  only  by  those  who  know  him  and  who  is  uni- 
versally respected,  admired  and  esteemed.  Quiet  and  unassuming, 
he  is  yet  a  man  of  infinite  resource  and  is  absolutely  fearless  in  his 
denunciation  of  whatever  he  believes  to  be  evil  or  an  injustice. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  283 

John  J.  Flinn  is  a  Tipperary  man,  born  at  Clonmel,  December 
5th,  1851.  His  grandfather  on  the  father's  side  was  Martin  Flinn, 
a  ship  builder  of  Youghal,  while  his  maternal  grandfather  was 
James  Cunningham,  a  miller  of  Kilkenny.  The  father  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  James  Flinn,  a  prominent  carriage  builder 
of  Clonmel,  who  in  his  youth  was  employed  by  Bianconi,  the  famous 
car  proprietor  of  Dublin  and  contractor  with  the  government  for 
the  carrying  of  Irish  mails.  He  died  at  the  age  of  forty  and  it  was 
shortly  after  his  death  that  the  family  emigrated  to  America. 

Having  received  a  very  thorough  education  in  private,  national 
and  religious  schools,  as  well  as  at  a  seminary  in  Boston,  Mr.  Flinn 
began  his  newspaper  career  at  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  on  the  "Gazette," 
and  later  went  on  the  "Herald."  In  1873  he  became  a  reporter  on 
the  "Globe,"  of  St.  Louis,  now  the  "Globe  Democrat;"  acted  as 
correspondent  for  that  paper  in  the  Legislature,  and  was  after- 
wards, under  the  late  Joseph  B.  McCullagh,  its  night  editor.  Among 
assignments  handled  by  him  were  the  riots  of  New  Orleans  and 
the  Missouri  Constitutional  Convention  of  1874.  To  Chicago,  the 
great  center  of  Western  newspaper  work,  he  came  in  1875,  and  his 
first  employment  was  on  the  now  long  extinct  "Courier."  After- 
ward he  became  associate  editor  with  Melville  E.  Stone  on  the 
"Daily  News,"  when  that  paper  was  scarcely  four  months  old,  and 
with  it  he  remained  until  1882,  its  columns  frequently  publicly  tes- 
tifying that  the  success  achieved  was  in  a  large  measure  due  to  Mr. 
Flinn's  able  work.  In  the  latter  year  he  received  a  consulate  at 
Chemnitz,  Saxony,  from  President  Arthur,  and  on  his  return  to 
America  associated  himself  with  Frank  Hatton  and  Clinton  Snow- 
den  in  the  management  of  the  "Chicago  Mail,"  later  being  appointed 
managing  editor  of  the  "Chicago  Times,"  a  position  he  held  until 
that  paper  passed  into  entirely  new  hands.  He  then  abandoned 
the  newspaper  business  and  became  a  writer  and  compiler  of 
books,  with  that  object  becoming  partner  with  Mr.  W.  S.  Sheppard 


284  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 

iu  the  firm  of  Flinn  &  Sheppard,  and  the  Standard  Guide  Co. 
Among  writings  of  Mr.  Flinn  were  the  famous  "Sovik  Dispatch," 
the  outcome  of  which  was  the  killing  of  a  Chicago  newspaper; 
"Saxon  Sketches;"  "Yellowstone  Sketches;"  "The  Plug  Operator," 
etc.,  every  one  of  which  was  received  with  great  favor.  His  pub- 
lished books  include  "History  of  the  Chicago  Police"  (1887),  vari- 
ous handbooks  and  guides  of  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition 
(1892-3),  and  a  very  popular  handbook  of  Chicago  Biography  (1893). 
He  compiled  all  the  official  guide  books  of  the  World's  Columbian 
Exposition. 

In  June,  1895,  Mr.  Flinn  made  a  new  departure  in  the  world  of 
Chicago  newspapers  by  his  establishment  of  the  "Observer,"  a 
weekly  publication  of  general  information  and  independent  com- 
ment. Bold,  uncompromising,  and  absolutely  unconventional  in 
its  methods  of  treatment  and  forms  of  expression,  the  paper  has, 
despite  the  incredulity  of  Mr.  Flinn's  newspaper  associates  when 
it  started,  become  both  popular  and  prosperous.  Of  the  journal  it 
was  said  in  a  New  York  weekly:  "  'The  Observer'  proved  to  be  so 
delightfully  original  in  every  respect,  so  full  of  sparkling  wit,  genu- 
ine humor,  incisive  sarcasm  and  biting  irony — and  withal  so  pal- 
pably fair  and  so  scrupulously  clean  that  the  public  doubted 
whether  the  standard  it  had  fixed  could  be  maintained."  This, 
however,  has  been  done,  and  month  after  month  improvement  has 
been  made  until  "The  Observer"  is  to-day  ranked  as  one  of  the  best 
illustrated  critical  weekly  publications  in  America. 

Mr.  Flinn  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Talbot  Cole,  of 
St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  in  1877,  and  to  them  six  children  have  been  born. 
Very  domestic  in  his  tastes,  Mr.  Flinn  spends  his  happiest  hours  in 
the  company  of  his  estimable  wife  and  bright  children  at  his  charm- 
ing home  in  Evanston. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  285 


JAMES  J.    FARRELLY. 


James  J.  Farrelly,  one  of  Chicago's  best  known  and  most  suc- 
cessful live  stock  commission  merchants,  is  a  native  of  County  Ca- 
van,  Ireland,  where  he  was  born  March  31st,  1859.  His  father, 
James  F.  Farrelly,  was  a  native  of  the  same  county  and  by  occupa- 
tion a  farmer,  and  his  mother,  Mary  Fitzpatrick,  was  a  native  of 
County  Longford. 

James  J.  Farrelly  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Ireland 
and  came  to  this  country  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  first  settling  in 
Iowa.  His  education  was  continued  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  Wis.,  and 
there  he  graduated  when  twenty-one  years  of  age,  but  he  was  still 
unsatisfied  with  such  knowledge  as  he  had  acquired,  and  subse- 
quently went  through  a  commercial  course  at  Bryant  &  Stratton's 
Business  College. 

Immediately  following  the  latter,  he  began  his  career  in  the 
live  stock  commission  business  with  Holmes  &  Patterson,  remain- 
ing with  that  firm  for  four  months,  and  then  in  1883  starting  in 
business  for  himself  at  the  stock  yards.  He  continued  his  business 
until  1887,  when  he  entered  into  association  with  C.  R.  Bensley  and 
J.  B.  Beach,  as  Bensley,  Beach  &  Co.,  Mr.  Farrelly  being  the  latter. 
His  next  step  was  to  establish  the  firm  of  J.  J.  Farrelly  &  Co.,  and 
in  this  F.  Wilson  &  Brother  were  the  partners.  They  do  a  most 
extensive  business,  amounting  to  some  three  millions  of  dollars  a 
year  and  embracing  all  kinds  of  live  stock. 

Mr.  Farrelly  is  in  his  religious  views  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  Catholic  Benevolent  Legion  and  also  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum.  In  his  political  views  he  has  all  his  life  been  a  Democrat 


286  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF    THE 

until  this  year,  1896,  when,  with  an  immense  number  of  other  old 
line  Democrats,  his  vote  was  given  for  William  McKinley. 

He  married  Minnie,  only  daughter  of  Joseph  CaMll,  of  Chicago. 
They  have  three  children,  all  of  whom  are  boys.  Mr.  Farrelly  is  a 
man  of  fine  physique  and  of  most  agreeable  and  courteous  man- 
ners; in  his  tastes  he  is  thoroughly  domestic  and  outside  of  busi- 
ness most  of  his  time  is  spent  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  home,  from 
which  he  finds  entire  satisfaction  without  coveting  either  political 
honors  or  a  life  of  greater  publicity  and  power. 


JOHN  W.  FARLEY. 


Among  the  leading  contractors  of  Chicago,  none  stands  higher 
either  in  business  reputation  or  in  social  character  than  John  W. 
Farley,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Farley  &  Green.  While  yet 
comparatively  a  young  man,  he  has  by  his  energy  and  steadfast- 
ness of  purpose  obtained  a  name  in  the  commercial  world  well 
worthy  of  his  labors  and  of  which  he  has  the  strongest  reasons  to 
be  proud. 

Mr.  Farley  was  born  in  Haverstraw,  New  York,  February  12th, 
1801,  his  parents  being  Charles  and  Jane  (Bartley)  Farley.  His 
father  is  a  native  of  Dublin,  Ireland,  and  coming  to  America  about 
1850,  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  prints  in  New  York  State. 
In  1862,  the  brilliant  opportunities  of  the  Western  world  appealed 
to  him  and  he  came  to  Chicago,  which  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
He  is  the  father  of  six  children,  three  boys  and  three  girls,  and  of 
these  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch  is  the  fourth  in  the  list. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  287 

When  John  W.  Farley  came  to  Chicago  he  was  but  eighteen 
months  old,  and  he  grew  up  surrounded  by  the  environments  of, 
and  enjoying  whatever  advantages  there  may  be  obtained  in",  a  city 
life.  His  education  was  received  in  the  public  schools,  and  being 
a  natural  student,  his  progress  was  rapid  and  thorough.  Having 
decided  to  engage  in  the  contracting  business,  he  made  a  start  in 
1887,  and  quickly  forging  to  the  front,  became  one  of  the  best 
known  contractors  for  street  and  sewer  improvements  in  the  City 
of  Chicago  and  in  the  suburban  towns.  Prominent  among  the 
large  contracts  undertaken  by  him  was  the  building  of  an  eight 
and  one-half  foot  sewer  in  West  Forty-eighth  Avenue,  five  miles 
in  length,  and  also,  in  1895,  a  complete  sewer  system  of  seventeen 
miles,  in  Grossdale,  Cook  County,  111. 

Increasing  business  interests  obliged  him  in  1894  to  obtain  a 
suitable  partner,  and  in  that  year  he  associated  himself  with  Mr. 
Green,  who  had  been  for  twenty  years  superintendent  of  the  John 
Cudahy  Packing  Company.  The  firm  has  since  continued  and  is 
now  known  as  Farley  &  Green,  with  general  offices  at  1007  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce  Building. 

A  Democrat  in  his  political  convictions,  the  estimation  in  which 
he  is  held  in  the  party  was  shown  in  1886,  when  Mr.  Farley  served 
his  constituents  in  the  Thirty-fifth  General  Assembly  of  the  State 
Legislature,  making  himself  deservedly  popular  at  the  State  Cap- 
itol, and  leaving  behind  him  an  official  record  absolutely  without 
a  blemish. 

Mr.  Farley  is  prominently  identified  with  a  number  of  fraternal 
organizations,  being  president  of  Division  24,  Ancient  Order  of 
Hibernians,  located  at  La  Grange,  Cook  County,  111.,  and  al^o  a 
member  of  the  Royal  League,  Union  Council  No.  15,  .and  the  North 
American  Union.  He  is  a  Roman  Catholic. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  December  18th,  1889,  to  Miss  Mary 
Ross,  daughter  of  Justice  Henry  E.  Willmott,  and  to  them  three 


288  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 

children  have  been  born — Charles  W.,  Katherine,  and  John  W.,  Jr. 
Of  pleasing  appearance,  charming  personality,  kindly  and  gen- 
erous in  disposition,  honest  and  upright  in  his  business  methods, 
and  faithful  to  every  trust,  John  W.  Farley  has  succeeded  in  mak- 
ing for  himself  a  host  of  friends,  who  esteem  him  for  his  qualities 
of  head  and  heart,  and  watch  with  affectionate  interest  the  young 
American  Irishman's  future  career,  of  which  he  has  already  given 
such  noble  promise. 


THOMAS   H.  MULLAY. 


Over  thirty  years  ago  there  grew  up  in  the  back  woods  of  Michi- 
gan a  large  silent  boy,  with  nothing  remarkable  about  him  except 
his  big  square  hands  that  were  always  meddling  with  things.  He 
at  least  seemed  larger  to  that  part  of  the  family  which  were  all 
girls.  The  palmistry  dictum  about  square  fingers  seemed  true  in 
this  case,  for  at  an  early  age  the  boy  began  drawing  scrawlings  of 
horses  and  Indians,  caricatures,  portraitures,  and  apt  illustrations 
of  local  incidents  and  happenings  at  school  and  elseAvhere.  Soon 
his  ability  to  make  his  pencil  "talk,"  his  inclinations  towards 
studies,  won  for  him.  the  special  interest  of  gifted  teachers,  who 
gave  him  every  encouragement  to  develop  his  talent  for  the  profes- 
sion in  which  he  was  destined  later  to  make  so  considerable  a  suc- 
cess. 

His  parents  early  removed  to  Columbus,  O.,  and  with  that  Irish 
enthusiasm  and  respect  for  "things  of  the  mind,"  clearly  realized 
the  advantages  of  the  American  system  of  education,  and  were 
able  to  give  each  of  a  large  family  at  least  a  high  school  education. 


(7 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  291 

The  hoy  Tom,  in  addition  to  parochial  and  public  school  instruc- 
tion, had  the  advantage  of  private  instruction  from  teachers  and 
from  the  art  school  of  that  city,  in  painting  and  modeling  in  clay 
and  working  in  plaster.  While  in  his  senior  year  in  high  school  he 
taught  drawing  in  that  institution.  From  there  he  went,  with  oth- 
ers of  the  family,  to  the  Ohio  State  University,  where  he  took  the 
civil  engineering  course.  Out  of  school  hours  he  modeled  in  clay. 
One  of  the  various  things  he  did  was  a  life-sized  bust  of  Bishop 
Rosencrans,  first  bishop  of  Columbus,  O.  He  designed  and  mod- 
eled plaster  ornaments,  column  capitals  for  buildings.  He  left 
Columbus  and  obtained  employment  in  Cincinnati,  drawing  for 
engraving  and  lithographing  companies,  designing  posters,  show- 
bills, trade  catalogues,  and  doing  general  illustrating  work. 

Gradually,  and  possibly  through  his  experience  in  making 
water-color  drawings  of  buildings,  he  drifted  into  architecture. 
He  returned  to  Columbus,  O.,  and  for  several  years  was  in  the  em- 
ploy of  J.  W.  Yost,  architect,  where  he  was  designing  and  con- 
structing court  houses,  jails,  schools,  churches,  etc.,  in  which  his 
knowledge  of  engineering  served  him  no  less  than  his  artistic  sense. 
Shortly  after  this  time,  too,  he  made  a  detailed  map  of  the  City  of 
Columbus,  which  was  about  six  feet  square;  showing  streets, 
wards,  subdivisions,  lots  (with  their  dimensions),  sewers,  and  vari- 
ous old  surveys;  a  map  which,  at  the  present  time,  is  used  by  the 
real  estate  and  other  business  men  of  the  city.  His  next  move  was 
to  Chicago,  where  he  resumed  his  architectural  work  and  took  up, 
in  addition,  considerable  engineering. 

A  bicycle  trip  was  made  to  Europe,  in  1889.  England,  Ireland, 
Scotland,  France,  Germany,  Switzerland,  Austria,  Italy,  and  Hol- 
land were  visited,  the  Alps  twice  crossed  on  his  wheel,  and  a  large 
number  of  sketches  made.  He  was  twice  arrested  by  the  French 
military  and  some  of  his  sketches  confiscated.  His  journey  was  in- 
teresting and  amusing.  The  old  style,  hard  solid  rubber  tire,  forty- 
16 


292  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

five  pounds  Columbia  Roadster  was  used;  his  own  weight  was 
about  135  pounds;  in  addition,  a  small  knapsack.  This  was  con- 
sidered the  best  way  to  see  the  country  then,  and  with  the  twenty- 
two  pound  wheel  of  to-day  and  less  restrictions,  bicyclers  will  find 
it  much  easier. 

Returning  to  Chicago  he  worked  for  the  best  architectural  firms 
of  the  city,  including  those  of  W.  L.  B.  Jenney  and  D.  II.  Burnham. 
While  with  the  latter  he  was  engaged  in  laying  out  the  wooden 
frame  work  of  the  World's  Columbiam  Exhibition  Buildings.  He 
has  also  laid  out  the  steel  skeleton  construction  work  and  founda- 
tions for  some  of  the  leading  stores  and  office  buildings.  His  ex- 
perience has  also  covered  the  laying  out  of  several  large  shops  and 
factories.  As  superintendent  for  Mr.  F.  M.  Whitehouse  his  work 
was  chiefly  with  residences. 

At  last,  considering  himself  sufficiently  equipped,  he  started 
in  business  for  himself,  with  the  result  that  he  has  gathered  around 
him  some  first-class  clients  and  with  very  definite  success,  both  to 
them  and  himself.  He  has  a  large  acquaintance  in  Chicago,  gained 
professionally,  and  while  a  member  of  the  Architectural  Sketch 
Club,  the  Columbus  and  Sheridan  Clubs.  Mr.  Mullay  is  thoroughly 
American  in  his  ideas  and  sentiments,  a  free  lance  in  politics,  and 
votes  for  what  he  considers  the  best  interests.  His  American  edu- 
cation has  developed  only  some  of  the  best  traits  which  character- 
ize the  Celtic  genius,  which  make  his  personality  no  less  interest- 
ing than  his  achievements.  He  is  a  man  genial  in  his  habits,  kindly 
in  his  disposition,  and  generous  in  his  nature  and  of  very  good 
judgment. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  293 


WILLIAM   ERWIN   KEELEY. 

William  Erwin  Keeley  was  born  December  1st,  1853,  at  Fox 
Lake,  Dodge  County,  Wis.  His  father,  Michael  Keeley,  was  a  native 
of  Galway,  Ireland,  and  coming  to  America  in  1848,  settled  first 
in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  later  in  Wisconsin.  He  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming  until  his  death,  in  1886,  and  was  very  highly 
respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  had  married  Catherine  Kenney, 
also  of  Galway. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  in  his  youth  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  town,  afterward  for  some  time  teaching  school 
and  utilizing  what  moneys  he  received  to  defray  his  expenses  at 
Wisconsin  State  University.  From  the  latter  he  graduated  in  1878 
with  high  honors  and  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  For  two 
years  afterward,  Mr.  Keeley  taught  in  the  public  schools  of  Ran- 
dolph, Wis.,  and  during  this  tiine  was  so  highly  esteemed  by  his 
fellow  citizens  that  he  was  chosen  to  hold  the  office  of  Village  Pres- 
ident. While  teaching  school  he  devoted  his  spare  time  to  reading 
law  and  when,  in  1880,  he  moved  to  Beaver  Dam,  Wis.,  his  whole 
time  was  given  up  to  its  study,  and  on  March  1st,  1880,  the  Circuit 
Court  of  Juneau,  Dodge  County,  Wis.,  granted  him  a  license  to 
practice. 

Being  of  a  very  ambitious  disposition,  he  at  once  entered  into 
politics,  and  at  the  following  election  received  the  nomination  by 
his  party  for  the  office  of  District  Attorney  of  Dodge  County,  and 
was  elected  in  the  fall  of  1882  for  a  term  of  four  years.  When  his 
term  expired  he  returned  to  the  practice  of  law  at  Beaver  Dam,  but 
his  fellow  citizens,  without  consulting  him,  elected  him  Alderman, 
and  several  times  he  was  honored  with  re-election.  Desiring  a 


294  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

larger  field  for  the  exercise  of  his  abilities,  in  February,  1893,  Mr. 
Keeley  sold  his  practice  and  moved  to  Chicago,  where  he  enjoys 
already  a  large  general  practice  and  bears  a  very  high  reputation. 

Mr.  Keeley  was  united  in  marriage  July  30th,  1884,  to  Mary 
Ogar,  of  St.  Paul,  Minn.  They  have  had  four  children,  of  whom 
three  are  living. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  the  Columbian  Knights,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  in  all  has  held  high  office.  A  strong  Republican  in 
his  political  opinions,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Hamilton  and  the 
Thirty-fourth  Ward  Republican  Clubs,  and  during  the  last  cam- 
paign was  very  active  in  the  interests  of  his  party.  In  religious 
matters  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  belongs  to  the  congregation 
of  St.  Thomas'  Church  at  Hyde  Park. 


RICHARD  CAMILLIUS   GANNON. 


There  are  two  reasons  why  the  name  of  Gannon  should  strike 
a  warm  chord  in  the  hearts  of  every  reader  of  this  work,  one  being 
that  no  name  is  more  familiar  in  Chicago  among  the  tens  of  thou- 
sands who  have  had  occasion  to  bless  the  broad  and  noble  charities 
of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul,  than  that  of  Mr.  Richard  C.  Gannon,  who  for 
the  last  ten  years  in  the  capacity  of  president  has  had  to  a  large 
extent  the  guidance  of  its  great  and  wide  spread  benevolence,  and 
the  second,  that  the  late  Patrick  Gannon,  revered  and  lamented 
father  of  our  subject,  in  the  noble  warfare  which  Ireland's  sons 
have  so  unceasingly  waged  in  the  cause  of  political  freedom,  was 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN   CHICAGO.  295 

a  recognized  leader  and  on  account  of  his  activity  and  influence, 
suffered  the  penalty  of  life-long  banishment  from  the  land  of  his 
birth. 

Patrick  Gannon  was  born  in  Naas,  County  of  Kildare,  in  1796, 
received  a  very  fine  education,  was  afterwards  the  bosom  friend  of 
Daniel  O'Connell,  and  also  a  recognized  leader  of  the  Young  Ire- 
land Party.  The  better  days  of  his  life  were  spent  in  Dublin,  where 
he  labored  incessantly  for  the  independence  of  Ireland.  In  the 
rebellion  of  1848  he  took  an  active  part  and  it  was  because  of  this 
association  that  he  was  forced  to  seek  a  home  in  a  foreign  land. 
In  1853  he  came  to  Chicago,  where  the  remainder  of  his  life  was 
spent.  He  engaged  here  in  the  retail  grocery  business,  in  which 
he  continued  until  his  death,  October  10th,  1874.  Although  so  far 
removed  from  his  loved  country,  he  never  ceased  his  efforts  for 
her  welfare,  and  a  grand  monument  to  his  memory  is  the  Dublin 
branch  of  the  St.  Andrew's  Benevolent  Society,  which  he  was  suc- 
cessful in  establishing.  He  died  in  the  consciousness  that  his  labor 
had  not  been  entirely  in  vain  and  firmly  convinced  of  the  justice 
and  right  of  the  ca,use  to  which  he  had  so  largely  contributed,  en- 
tirely -satisfied  of  its  ultimate  triumph.  His  wife  was  Elizabeth 
Low,  a  native  of  Dublin,  Ireland,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1835. 
Mrs.  Gannon  died  while  on  a  visit  to  the  city  of  her  birth,  October 
1st,  1872,  aged  fifty -four  years. 

Richard  C.  Gannon,  the  eldest  of  thirteen  children  of  Patrick 
and  Elizabeth  Gannon,  was  born  in  Dublin,  December  19th,  1843, 
and  came  to  this  city  with  his  parents  in  1853.  He  had  previously 
gone  through  the  primary  grades  of  his  educational  career  at  the 
famous  school  of  Dr.  Quinn,  in  Dublin,  where  one  of  his  classmates 
was  the  present  primate  of  all  Ireland,  the  Most  Reverend  Dr. 
Walsh,  Archbishop  of  Dublin,  and  finished  at  old  St.  Mary's  of  the 
Lake,  in  Chicago,  in  1865. 

In  early  life  his  inclination  and  desire  made  him  anxious  to  be- 


296  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

come  a  priest,  but  as  he  grew  older,  the  duties  of  a  life  in  which 
his  services  could  bring  immediate  return  in  support  of  his  father's 
efforts  to  bring  up  and  educate  his  several  brothers  and  sisters, 
were  circumstances  that  determined  him  on  a  different  career.  In 
the  course  of  life  he  was  thus  led  into  he  has  been  in  no  way  less 
successful  because  it  was  so  dissimilar  to  his  original  choice. 

Schooling  over,  he  was  for  two  years  book-keeper  in  a  whole- 
sale dry  goods  house,  and  subsequently  for  five  years  in  the  employ 
of  the  American  Express  Company  as  messenger,  a  place  he  re- 
signed to  become  city  salesman  for  William  M.  Hoyt  &  Company, 
wholesale  grocers.  In  1874  he  accepted  a  position  as  traveling 
salesman  with  the  firm  of  Grannis  &  Farwell  and  continued  in 
that  position  fourteen  years,  until  the  firm  dissolved  and  retired 
from  business.  During  his  long  connection  with  this  house,  Mr. 
Gannon  made  weekly  trips  through  the  coal  districts  of  Illinois, 
and  on  the  breaking  up  of  the  old  associations  he  was  the  recipient 
of  many  marks  of  esteem  from  his  old  employers  as  well  as  his  fel- 
low employes.  A  similar  position  was  at  once  offered  him  with  the 
well  known  firm  of  Franklin  MacVeagh  &  Company,  and  to  the  new 
interest  he  took  with  him  no  less  than  fourteen  of  his  old  associates. 
This  connection  is  still  maintained,  Mr.  Gannon  occupying  the  post 
of  general  traveling  salesman,  still  covering  his  old  territory  and 
occupying  an  advanced  place  in  the  esteem  and  respect  of  his  em- 
ployers. It  is  illustrative  of  the  man's  force  of  character,  his  gen- 
eral ability  and  the  uprightness  and  honesty  of  his  methods,  that 
he  should  for  so  extended  a  number  of  years  continue  to  control  the 
trade  of  his  territory,  at  the  same  time  adding  to  and  developing 
the  business  of  his  house  therein,  and  well  evidences  the  fact  that 
his  work  gives  entire  and  constant  satisfaction  to  his  employers. 

The  key-note  of  his  success  is  possibly  to  be  found  in  the  princi- 
ple which  seems  to  have  dominated  his  life,  that  charity  is  the 
greatest  of  the  virtues.  The  world  in  general,  and  the  Catholic 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  297 

world  in  particular,  knows  him  best  in  this  connection,  for  of  that 
great  charitable  organization,  the  Society  of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul, 
he  has  been  a  member  for  thirty  years,  having  joined  the  conference 
of  St.  Patrick  parish  in  1865.  Regarding  this  society,  it  was  found- 
ed by  Frederic  Ozanam  in  Paris  in  1833,  and  is  now  known  through- 
out the  whole  world  as  one  of  the  most  perfect  and  meritorious.  It 
possesses  an  active  membership  of  about  87,000  and  an  honorary 
membership  of  over  100,000.  The  Chicago  branch  numbers  twenty- 
four  conferences,  which  report  to  the  Particular  and  Central  Coun- 
cils. The  Particular  Council  was  instituted  in  February,  1872,  and 
the  Central  on  January  5th,  1894.  In  1883  Mr.  Gannon  was  elected 
vice-president  of  the  former,  and  in  1890  succeeded  to  its  presi- 
dency, which  he  still  holds.  He  was  elected  president  of  the  Cen- 
tral Council  on  its  organization,  and  in  these  high  offices  his  services 
have  been  of  the  utmost  value  to  the  growth  and  development  of 
the  society  in  Chicago  and  in  the  prosecution  of  its  noble  work. 
The  Chicago  membership  amounts  to  500. 

February  8th,  1877,  Mr.  Gannon  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Mary  Anna,  daughter  of  the  late  Isaac  C.  Hildreth,  of  Chicago.  Mr. 
llildreth  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  but  had  resided  in  Brook- 
lyn for  many  years,  being  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business.  lie 
moved  to  Chicago  in  1872  and  took  up  the  coal  business.  His  wife 
was  Mary  A.  Brown,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire.  She  died  in  1885, 
aged  sixty-four  years.  At  one  time  Mr.  llildreth  was  a  deacon  of 
Kev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher's  Church,  but  later  he  became  a  convert 
to  the  Catholic  faith,  in  which  he  died  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-two  years,  in  1895.  Mr.  Hildreth  was  for  ten  years  prior  to 
his  death,  vice-president  of  the  Particular  Council  Society  of  St. 
Vincent  de  Paul.  As  an  officer  he  was  most  devoted  to  the  interest 
of  the  society,  and  was  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him  for  his  kindly 
nature  and  his  gentle,  unassuming  piety. 

Mrs.  Gannon  was  educated  at  Notre  Dame  Convent,  in  Balti- 


298  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF   THE 

more,  and  is  an  active  member  of  St.  Patrick's  Church.  By  virtue 
of  her  many  estimable  qualities,  she  is  one  of  the  most  popular 
members  in  the  west  division  of  Chicago's  social  and  charitable 
circles. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gannon  have  been  born  two  children — Eichard 
C.,  Jr.,  on  December  29th,  1877,  and  Edward  R,  on  February  7th, 
1882,  both  of  whom  are  receiving  their  education  at  St.  Ignatius 
College. 

Mr.  Gannon  is  a  member  of  the  Illinois  Traveling  Men's  Associa- 
tion and  the  Northwestern  Traveling  Men's  Association.  He  also 
holds  membership  in  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen  and 
in  the  National  Union.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Columbus  Club. 


PATRICK   JAMES   O'KEEFFE. 

Patrick  James  O'Keeffe  is  an  Irishman  who,  while  compara- 
tively a  young  man,  has  passed  through  much  suffering  and  hard- 
ship for  his  native  land.  Born  March  29th,  1861,  in  Broadford, 
County  Limerick,  Ireland,  his  parents  were  Patrick  and  Margaret 
(Sullivan)  O'Keeffe.  The  O'Keeffes  have  an  interesting  history. 
They  belonged  to  the  four  tribal  chieftains  of  Kerry,  the  others 
being  the  Sullivans-Bere,  the  McCarthy-Mores,  and  the  Fitzmau- 
rices,  a,nd  lineage  is  traced  back  for  many  hundred  years.  Patrick 
O'Keeffe,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  still  living 
and  now  over  seventy  years  of  age,  was  arrested  by  the  English 
Government  at  the  time  of  the  1865  troubles  on  the  suspicion  of 
being  a  Fenian.  The  mother  came  of  a  prominent  Cork  family,  her 
father,  Geoffrey  Sullivan,  being  a  leading  surgeon  of  that  county, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  301 

whose  father,  James  Sullivan,  had  been  dispossessed  of  several 
thousand  acres  of  land  because  he  refused  to  conform  to  the  Prot- 
estant form  of  worship.  On  her  father's  side  she  belonged  to  the 
Sullivan-Bere  clan,  and  on  her  mother's  side  to  the  Fitzmaurices 
of  Lixnaw,  Kerry.  She  had  two  brothers,  one  of  whom,  James  Sul- 
livan, chief  engineer  of  New  York  City  about  the  year  1860,  was 
burned  to  death  in  his  efforts  to  save  some  city  property  from  the 
fire;  while  the  other,  William  by  name,  who  caine  to  the  United 
States  at  an  early  age,  settled  in  Virginia  and  became  a  very 
wealthy  planter. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  a  private  classical  school  at 
Charleville,  County  Cork,  and  was  later  a  student  at  the  old  Dio- 
cesian  College  in  Limerick  City,  from  which,  in  November,  187G, 
he  passed  an  examination  for  the  Queen's  University,  in  Cork,  and 
in  the  following  year  matriculated  at  the  college  in  Glasgow.  The 
business  reverses  suffered  by  his  father  then  forced  him  to  seek  a 
living,  and  he  applied  himself  to  the  profession  of  journalism.  His 
first  work  in  that  line  was  done  on  the  Cork  "Daily  Herald,"  and 
later  he  became  a  correspondent  for  the  Dublin  "Freeman's  Jour- 
nal," and  afterwards  secured  a  position  as  special  correspondent 
for  the  London  Associated  Press. 

Mr.  O'Keeft'e  has  the  distinction  of  having  been  one  of  the  first 
to  be  arrested  during  the  Land  League  troubles  of  1879  and  1880, 
and  was  for  eleven  months  in  prison  at  Naas, '  County  Kildare. 
Some  time  before  his  release,  his  freedom  was  offered  him  on  the 
conditions  that  he  would  refrain  from  taking  any  further  part  in 
Irish  political  matters  or  leave  the  country,  but  to  both  of  these 
propositions  he  gave  an  absolute  refusal.  When  released,  he  was 
cautioned  that  he  would  be  under  strict  surveillance,  and  less  than 
a  month  afterwards  he  was  once  more  arrested  as  a  seditious  sus- 
pect and  for  ten  days  was  detained  in  Limerick  prison  in  a  cell 
seven  by  six  feet  and  there  subjected  to  every  possible  humiliation 


302  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

short  of  absolute  brutality.  On  several  occasions  his  cell  and  his 
person  were  searched,  even  his  shoes  being  removed  and  closely 
examined  under  the  excuse  that  he  might  have  some  firearms  or 
something  else  not  allowed  by  the  prison  rules.  Then,  without  a 
jury,  he  was  tried  before  two  judges,  acting  under  the  infamous 
act  of  Edward  the  Third,  suspending  the  habeas  corpus.  However, 
as  no  act  of  sedition  could  be  proved  against  him,  even  by  the  most 
unscrupulous  detectives,  one  of  whom  particularly  testified  that 
Mr.  O'Keeffe  was  a  ring  leader  in  everything  that  was  antagonistic 
to  the  peace  of  her  Majesty's  Government,  the  judges  refused  to 
convict  without  positive  proof  of  the  commission  of  some  crime. 

A  few  months  later  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and  after 
twelve  mouths  in  the  City  of  NeAV  York,  where  he  resumed  journal- 
istic work,  doing  some  special  work  on  the  New  York  "Star,"  he 
went  South.  There  he  was  shortly  afterwards  taken  ill  with  a 
fever  and  for  a  time  was  compelled  to  visit  the  pine  woods  of  Can- 
ada, where  he  succeeded  in  regaining  his  health.  In  the  fall  of 
1882  he  came  to  Chicago  and  since  that  time  he  has  done  special 
newspaper  Avork  for  the  "Chicago  Tribune,"  the  "Times-Herald," 
and  other  papers. 

In  1886  he  was  offered  the  position  of  Auditor  of  the  Board  of 
Public  AVorks  by  the  late  Mayor  Carter  Harrison,  who  desired  to 
show  his  personal  appreciation  of  some  sketches  Mr.  O'Keeffe  had 
written  concerning  him,  and  also  to  testify  to  the  estimation  in 
which  he  was  held  by  his  associates.  The  place  was  formally  ac- 
cepted, but  Mr.  O'Keeffe  having  an  inclination  to  learn  something 
of  a  business  career,  in  the  following  month— September,  1886— 
took  a  position  at  the  Stock  Yards  with  the  packing  company  of 
P.  D.  Armour.  There  he  remained  until  January,  1892,  when  he 
returned  to  newspaper  work  on  the  editorial  staff  of  the  old 
"Times,"  resigning,  however,  the  following  April,  to  return  to  the 
service  of  P.  D.  Armour,  where  he  is  at  the  present  time. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  303 

Mr.  O'Keeffe  continues  to  write  for  various  publications  and 
short  articles  from  his  pen  have  been  published  in  the  magazines, 
including  a  sketch  of  Chicago,  which  appeared  in  the  New  England 
Magazine.  Ireland  has  also  been  revisited  by  him  a  number  of 
times,  and  a  considerable  number  of  sketches  on  Irish  scenes  and 
on  folk-lore  subjects  have  been  written  by  him  for  the  papers  of 
this  city.  In  addition,  he  is  now  studying  for  the  bar  at  the  Lake 
Forest  University,  and  expects  to  begin  active  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  1898. 

He  was  married,  August  7th,  1889,  to  Isabelle  Cecilia  Kelly, 
also  well  known  as  a  writer  as  well  as  for  the  great  interest  she  has 
taken  in  charitable  and  Catholic  associations.  This  lady  was  prac- 
tically the  founder  and  first  president  of  the  Catholic  Woman's 
National  League.  They  have  one  child. 

A  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  he  is  by  religion  a  Roman 
Catholic  and  a  member  of  the  congregation  of  St.  Cecilia's,  of  which 
parish  Father  Kelly,  the  pastor,  is  his  brother-in-law.  Mr.  O'Keeffe 

« 

is  also  a  member  of  the  National  Union,  North  American  Union, 
Royal  League,  and  Lake  Forest  Alumni.  He  is  a  man  of  broad  mind 
and  liberal  ideas,  rich  in  his  intellect  and  experienced  in  his  judg- 
ment, a  strong  antagonist,  but  ever  faithful  to  his  word  and  trusts, 
and  held  in  the  very-  highest  consideration  by  an  immense  number 
of  devoted  friends. 


JOHN  DADIE. 

In  this  great  city  of  Chicago  are  many  striking  examples  of  the 
possibilities  before  men  of  ability,  enterprise  and  application.  The 
progress  made  has  been  slow  but  regular,  the  path  chosen  has  been 
never  deviated  from,  and  the  result  achieved  is  an  honorable  iude- 


304  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

pendence  and  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens.  The 
subject  of  the  present  sketch  is  one  of  these  men. 

He  was  born  in  May,  1860,  at  Warrenville,  Du  Page  County, 
Illinois,  where  his  parents,  Jeremiah  and  Mary  Dadie,  had  settled 
in  1858.  His  father  and  mother  are  both  of  Irish  birth,  Jeremiah 
Dadie  being  a  native  of  County  Cork,  who  first  settled  at  Bab- 
cocks  Grove,  Du  Page  County,  afterwards  moving  to  Warrenville; 
and  his  wife  from  Athlone,  on  the  banks  of  the  River  Shannon,  who 
came  to  this  country  in  1855  and  settled  with  a  sister  at  Naper- 
ville,  Illinois.  In  the  old  country  Jeremiah  Dadie  had  been  a 
farmer,  but  when  he  arrived  in  the  United  States  he  took  up  the 
trade  of  stone  mason. 

John  Dadie  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Warrenville 
and  went  to  the  North  Western  College  at  Naperville,  in  1876.  At 
the  latter  he  took  the  commercial  course,  and  general  English 
branches,  graduating  in  1879.  Having  settled  upon  the  occupa- 
tion of  a  book-keeper,  he  at  once  came  to  Chicago  and  found  a 
place  with  Marshall  Field  &  Co.  Two  years  afterwards  he  availed 
himself  of  an  opportunity  to  better  his  condition,  and  took  a  sit- 
uation with  the  W.  J.  Sloan  Carpet  Company,  of  New  York,  as 
book-keeper  in  the  Chicago  branch.  Later  he  obtained  a  place  in 
a  similar  capacity  with  the  firm  of  W.  J.  Moxley.  Afterwards,  when 
that  firm  was  incorporated,  he  became  its  secretary  and  treasurer, 
a  position  he  still  retains. 

John  Dadie  was  married  first  in  1885  to  Agnes  Adams,  who 
died  a  couple  of  years  later,  leaving  one  girl,  Gertrude,  another 
daughter  having  died  in  1886.  He  then  married,  in  1892,  Mar- 
garette  Moxley,  daughter  of  W.  J.  Moxley,  president  of  the  Mox- 
ley Manufacturing  Company. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  member  of  several  clubs,  and 
also  friendly  societies.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  Chicago 
Athletic  Club,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Columbus  Club  since  1894, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  305 

in  which  year  also  he  took  a  membership  in  the  Chicago  Board  of 
Trade.  He  became  a  Knight  of  St  Patrick  in  1893,  being  elected 
Commander  at  the  first  election  following  his  joining  the  society, 
and  has  remained  so  up  to  the  present  time. 

In  religion  he  is  a  Eoman  Catholic;  but  as  regards  his  politics 
he  recently  altered  his  views,  which  had  formerly  been  Democratic, 
to  those  of  the  Republicans. 


WILLIAM  A.  CUNNEA. 


Young  and  energetic,  forceful  and  well  favored  both  physically 
and  intellectually,  William  A.  Cunnea,  another  bright  young  law- 
yer of  this  city,  is  a  good  example  of  the  result  of  natural  Irish  gifts 
when  united  and  tempered  by  the  peculiar  American  conditions. 

He  was  born  in  County  Down,  Ireland,  some  thirty  years  ago, 
his  parents,  Francis  and  Margaret  (Haggerty)  Cunnea,  both  being 
natives  of  County  Donegal.  The  former,  with  a  brother  of  his,  who 
commanded  a  British  gunboat,  and  several  other  relatives,  all  fol- 
lowed the  sea  in  some  capacity  or  another,  for  a  livelihood,  the 
first  mentioned  being  in  addition  chief  officer  of  coast  guards.  On 
his  death,  in  1884,  the  mother  came  to  the  United  States. 

William  A.  Cunnea  received  his  earlier  education  until  he  was 
ten  years  of  age  in  the  national  schools,  from  thence  going  to  St. 
Mary's  and  afterwards  to  St.  Patrick's,  at  Belfast,  passing  through 
all  the  usual  studies  and  being  a  frequent  prize  winner.  At  six- 
teen, when  his  schooling  was  over,  he  came  to  the  United  States 
and  for  twelve  months  attended  the  Metropolitan  Business  College, 
afterwards  reading  law  in  the  office  of  P.  T.  McElherne.  For  two 


306  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

years  he  then  attended  the  North  Western  University,  at  the  end 
of  which  time  he  received,  in  1889,  his  LL.  B.  In  the  same  year  he 
was  admitted  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois  and  deciding  at 
once  that  he  preferred  working  alone  to  the  forming  of  a  partner- 
ship, he  has  since  been  in  active  practice  for  himself.  He  has  met 
with  very  good  success  and  his  name  is  well  and  favorably  known 
among  the  successful  lawyers  of  this  city. 

Mr.  Cunnea  was  married  in  Chicago  on  Christmas  Day,  1895, 
to  Mary  E.  McElherne,  a  daughter  of  P.  T.  McElherne.  They  have 
one  son. 

He  is  a  Roman  Catholic  in  his  religious  views  and  a  Democrat 
in  his  politics.  Is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians 
and  president  of  Division  33;  is  chief  ranger  of  the  Foresters;  was 
formerly  state  secretary  of  the  Old  Continental  League,  and  belongs 
to  the  Phi  Delta  Phi  Society.  He  has  traveled  extensively  through- 
out the  United  States  and  in  Ireland  and  England.  On  all  general 
subjects  he  possesses  a  fund  of  information,  is  kindly  natured  and 
generous  in  his  disposition,  and  possesses,  in  addition  to  the  faculty 
of  making  friends,  the  higher  gift  of  an  ability  to  retain. 


JAMES  JOSEPH  KELLY. 


The  subject  of  the  present  sketch  is  another  of  this  city's  regi- 
ment of  bright  young  lawyers.  James  Joseph  Kelly  was  born 
March  21st,  1871,  in  Chicago,  his  father,  Thomas  Kelly,  being  a 
native  of  Tipperary,  Ireland,  and  having  come  to  America  in  1859, 
settling  first  in  Canada,  and  later,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Re- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  307 

bellion,  moving  to  Cairo,  111.  Here  he  joined  his  brother — they  both 
being  carpenters  by  trade — and  they  went  to  work  in  the  govern- 
ment ship  yards  fitting  out  the  gun  boats  which  were  then  being 
constructed  for  use  on  the  western  rivers.  The  war  at  an  end,  he 
came  to  Chicago,  where  he  gained  considerable  reputation  as  a 
builder,  and  more  particularly  as  a  stair  builder.  He  married  Ellen 
(Stapleton)  Kelly,  also  of  Tipperary,  and  one  of  a  prominent  family 
there,  several  of  her  brothel's  holding  good  positions  in  the  govern- 
ment service.  Both  are  still  living. 

James  Joseph  Kelly  attended  the  public  and  grammar  schools 
of  Chicago  in  his  youth,  later  taking  special  courses  at  the  Chicago 
Athenaeum  and  also  at  the  North  Western  University,  at  the  latter 
in  liberal  arts.  He  also  attended  the  law  school  of  the  University 
and,  not  content  with  this,  completed  his  legal  studies  at  the  Kent 
College  of  Law,  where  he  graduated  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  and 
received  in  June,  1893,  a  license  to  practice  from  the  Supreme  Court. 

At  once  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Ryerson  &  Taber,  remaining 
there  for  a  year  in  order  to  obtain  some  necessary  legal  experience 
before  starting  in  business  for  himself.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
opened  an  office  and  commenced  the  practice  on  his  own  account, 
and  now  enjoys  a  very  successful  general  practice  and  represents 
a  number  of  prominent  business  firms  and  corporations. 

Mr.  Kelly  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  and  is 
orator  of  De  SotoCouncil  of  theCatholic  Benevolent  Legion.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  Democrat,  and  in  1895  received  the  nomination  for  super- 
visor of  Hyde  Park,  in  which,  however,  as  that  is  one  of  the  strong- 
est Republican  districts  in  the  United  States,  he,  though  he  ran  con- 
siderably ahead  of  his  ticket,  met  with  defeat  at  the  election. 

Mr.  Kelly  is  president  of  the  Jeffersonian  Club  of  Cook  County, 
and  at  one  time  was  chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
Chicago  Archdiocesan  Union,  a  central  body  of  the  various  Cath- 
olic Young  Men's  Associations  throughout  the  Archdiocese.  He 


308  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

was  also  a  delegate  to  the  National  Convention  of  Catholic  Young 
Men's  Societies  held  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  1892.  During  the  last 
three  years  he  has  strongly  interested  himself  in  political  affairs, 
has  been  a  frequent  delegate  to  conventions,  and  took  a  very  active 
part  in  the  last  campaign. 


FRANCIS  O'NEILL. 


Police  Captain  Francis  O'Neill,  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch, 
is  an  American  Irishman  who  does  honor  to  his  fatherland  as  well 
as  the  country  he  has  made  his  home.  Fearless  and  energetic,  his 
name  stands  without  stain  or  reproach,  and  this  short  record  of 
his  adventurous  career  can  but  briefly  detail  a  most  interesting  life 
of  a  truly  representative  Irishman  who  might  fitly  be  chosen  as  a 
fitting  type  of  Chicago's  police  service. 

Francis  O'Neill  was  born  August  25th,  1849,  at  Tralibane,  three 
miles  from  Bantry,  County  Cork,  Ireland,  a  district  which  has 
given  birth  to  many  Irishmen  now  prominent  before  the  world, 
among  whom  may  be  mentioned  A.  M.  Sullivan,  T.  D.  Sullivan,  the 
author  of  "God  Save  Ireland,"  and  Tim  Healy,  M.  P.  He  was 
the  son  of  John  and  Catherine  (O'Mahoney)  O'Neill,  his  father  being 
an  educated  and  well-to-do  farmer,  while  his  mother  was  one  of 
the  O'Mahoneys  of  Castle  Mahon,  now  Castle  Bernard,  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  Munster.  Her  father,  Donald  Mor  O'Mahoney,  a  man 
famous  for  his  gigantic  stature,  was  a  latter  day  chieftain,  and  his 
grandson  recalls  seeing  horse  pistols,  pikes  and  bayonets  in  abun- 
dance at  his  home  near  Drimoleague. 

Francis  O'Neill  found  in  the  national  school  of  Bantry  a  thor- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN   CHICAGO.  311 

oughly  souud  education  on  all  general  subjects,  including  the  clas- 
sics. He  was  a  bright  boy,  an  omnivorous  reader,  an  ardent 
student,  and  so  distinguished  himself  in  mathematics  as  to  be 
named  by  his  teacher  "Philosopher  O'Neill."  At  the  age  of  four- 
teen he  become  senior  monitor  and  later  taught  school.  His  elder 
brother's  persistence,  however,  in  appropriating  his  salary  for  in- 
vestment in  stock  and  cattle  dealing,  a  course  later  well  justified 
since  he  made  a  rapid  fortune,  to  which  was  coupled  an  unques- 
tionable desire  for  travel,  led  him  when  barely  sixteen,  and  with 
the  limited  capital  of  five  dollars,  to  start  out  in  the  world.  His 
first  two  weeks  producing  no  tangible  result,  he  had  an  interview 
with  Bishop  Delaney  of  Cork,  who  proposed  either  to  make  of 
him  a  Christian  Brother  or  a  teacher  in  one  of  the  Catholic  schools. 
The  losing  his  way  and  the  conseqent  failure  to  keep  an  appoint- 
ment with  the  bishop  he  now  considers  responsible  for  his  failure  to 
become  a  monk.  This  was  in  March,  1865,  and  the  travel  instinct 
being  strong  he  worked  his  passage  to  Sunderland,  in  the  north  of 
England,  and  after  various  vicissitudes  shipped  there  as  a  cabin 
boy,  sailing  up  the  Mediterranean  and  via  the  Dardanelles,  the 
Bosphorus  and  the  Black  Sea  to  Odessa,  the  great  southern  port  of 
Russia.  On  the  return  voyage,  when  landing  in  Suuderland  har- 
bor, an  accident  threw  him-  off  the  vessel  to  the  ground  and  he 
fractured  his  skull.  A  practiced  swimmer,  on  starting  for  his  next 
voyage  to  Alexandria,  Egypt,  where  he  remained  nine  weeks,  he 
managed  to  save  the  boatswain's  life  in  the  Yarmouth  Roads,  in 
return  for  which  he  was  brutally  ill-treated  during  the  whole 
voyage.  After  other  voyages  in  which  he  had  some  very  interesting 
eastern  experiences,  in  July,  18G6,  he  shipped  at  Liverpool  on  the 
packet  ship  "Emerald  Isle,"  and  five  weeks  later  landed  in  New 
York.  Santa  Cruz,  West  Indies,  was  next  visited,  and  many  other 
places  in  South  America,  Later  he  shipped  at  New  York  on  the 
"Miniiehaha"  of  Boston,  bound  for  Japan,  where  he  arrived  after  a 

16 


312  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

voyage  lasting  seven  months  and  full  also  of  interesting  and  excit- 
ing experiences.  Ten  weeks  were  spent  there  and" then  the  journey 
was  continued  to  Honolulu,  Sandwich  Islands.  He  then  went  on 
to  Baker's  Island  in  the  Southern  Pacific  and  the  vessel  was 
wrecked  and  great  suffering  experienced  by  himself  and  the  others 
on  board.  At  last  he  returned  to  Honolulu  and  spent  an  interest- 
ing five  weeks  in  that  land  of  earthquakes.  Back  to  San  Fran- 
cisco, Mr.  O'Neill  determined  to  try  a  new  experience  and  see  the 
country,  so  hired  himself  to  take  charge  of  a  flock  of  sheep.  Five 
months  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains  were  so  passed,  and  then 
a  return  was  made  to  New  York,  via  Cape  Horn,  after  a  few  weeks' 
stay  at  Culiacan  on  the  west  coast  of  Mexico.  Having  traveled  for 
years  by  land  and  water  all  over  the  globe,  and  circumnavigating 
the  globe  before  attaining  his  majority,  a  few  hundred  dollars  hav- 
ing been  saved  by  him,  he  came  westwards  with  the  intention  of 
buying  and  establishing  a  home.  Edina,  in  Knox  County,  Mo.,  was 
selected,  and  having  passed  the  necessary  examination  success- 
fully, he  obtained  employment  teaching  in  the  district  school 
during  the  winter  of  1869.  The  spring  of  the  following  year  he 
came  to  Chicago  and  found  work  sailing  the  lakes  until  the  close 
of  the  navigation  of  that  year.  Returning  to  Missouri,  a  romantic 
episode  in  his  former  life  found  a.  fitting  conclusion.  It  was  at 
Bloomington,  111.,  that  he  renewed  his  acquaintance  with  a  hand- 
some and  most  estimable  young  lady,  Miss  Anna  Rogers,  who 
had  been  an  emigrant  with  him  on  "The  Emerald  Isle."  They  de- 
cided to  form  a  life  partnership  and  have  never  had  cause  to  regret 
so  doing. 

The  year  1871  saw  a  return  to  Chicago,  and  Mr.  O'Neill  found  em- 
ployment with  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  as  laborer  in  the 
freight  house.  A  few  weeks  afterwards  he  became  check  clerk  and 
then  other  promotions  until  he  was  given  complete  charge  of  the 
lumber  business  on  the  south  branch.  The  work  was  heavy  and  the 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  313 

remuneration  so  deplorably  small  that  he  decided  to  try  for  a 
position  on  the  police  force.  He  received  his  appointment  under 
Elmer  Washburne  and  was  sworn  in  July  12th,  1873,  being  assigned 
to  Harrison  Street  Station  under  Captain  Buckley.  The  following 
month  he  was  shot  in  an  encounter  with  a  notorious  burglar  and 
still  carries  a  memento  in  a  bullet  encysted  near  the  spine.  For  his 
bravery  the  following  day  he  was  advanced  to  be  regular  pa,trolman 
by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  police  board.  In  August,  1878,  he 
was  made  desk  sergeant  and  transferred  to  Deering  Street  Station. 
Chief  of  Police  Austin  J.  Doyle  moved  him  in  1884  to  the  general 
superintendent's  office  and  advanced  to  patrol  sergeant  January 
1st,  1887.  Raised  to  lieutenant  exactly  three  years  later,  he  con- 
tinued in  various  confidential  positions  in  the  general  superintend- 
ent's office.  On  his  own  request  Chief  of  Police  Major  E.  W.  Mc- 
Claughry  transferred  him  to  the  Tenth  Precinct  at  Hyde  Park, 
where  he  remained  until  recalled  to  Harrison  Street  Station  by 
Chief  of  Police  Brennan  in  July,  1893.  The  following  month  the 
latter  made  him  his  private  secretary,  and  April  17th,  1894,  he  was 
promoted  to  captain  and  assigned  in  charge  of  the  Eighth  District, 
the  Union  Stock  Yards.  Here  he  succeeded  in  adding  additional 
laurels  to  his  already  excellent  record.  In  July,  1894,  when  the  rail- 
road riots  Avere  at  their  height  his  district  was  the  center  of  the 
strike  trouble,  and  here  he  was  personally  in  entire  charge.  His 
assistants  were  brave  and  well-tried  officers,  but  his  was  the  chief 
responsibility  of  withstanding  the  attack  of  five  thousand  men 
thoroughly  enraged  by  the  state  militia's  action.  His  courage  and 
determination  undoubtedly  prevented  the  most  serious  conse- 
quences and  forced  the  unthinking  mob  to  understand  that  in 
Chicago  law  and  order  were  at  all  times  and  under  all  circumstances 
superior  to  lawlessness,  riot,  and  vandalism.  Chief  of  Police  Bren- 
nan made  public  acknowledgment  that  in  his  opinion  Captain 
O'Neill's  command  was  deserving  of  the  greatest  credit  in  the  strike 


314  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

trouble  and  of  the  captain  personally  said,  "Captain  O'Neill  is  one 
of  the  best  and  most  popular  officers  in  the  police  department. 
I  have  known  him  for  many  years  and  his  record  is  without  a 
blemish.  Since  he  has  been  connected  with  the  police  department 
he  has  never  been  fined,  suspended,  or  reprimanded.  He  is  well 
known  to  the  business  men  in  the  down-town  district  and  his  selec- 
tion for  any  position  I  am  sure  will  give  general  satisfaction." 

This  record  has  increased  year  after  year,  and  to-day  he  bears 
the  reputation  that  there  is  in  the  police  service  no  more  capable, 
efficient  or  braver  officer.  While  in  his  manner  he  is  unassuming, 
even  to  a  degree  of  shyness,  when  there  is  any  call  of  duty  his  per- 
formance is  immediate  and  perfect 

Though  Captain  O'Neill  has  always  been  classed  as  a  Democrat, 
his  vote  has  been  given  independent  of  political  party  distinctions, 
and  to  whomsoever  he  has  considered  the  better  fitted  for  the  office 
in  question.  In  religion  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  but  of  that  most 
liberal  type  which  offers  the  entirest  freedom  to  others. 

He  was  married  at  Bloomington,  111.,  in  November,  1870,  as  has 
been  before  mentioned,  to  Miss  Anna  Rogers,  descended  from  the 
O'Briens  of  Thomond.  Their  happy  household  consists  of  five  chil- 
dren, four  daughters  and  a  sou. 

He  is  the  only  member  in  Chicago  of  the  Cork  Historical  and 
Archaelogical  Society,  which  he  joined  on  its  organization  in  1891, 
and  of  which  his  boyhood  playmate  at  Bantry,  the  Right-Rev. 
Richard  A.  Sheehan,  bishop  of  Waterford  and  Lismore,  is  the  first 
president.  He  belongs  to  no  secret  societies,  but  is  a  member  of 
the  Police  Benevolent  Association. 

Captain  O'Neill  is  in  personal  appearance  a  man  of  medium 
height,  and  looks,  as  he  assuredly  is,  every  inch  a  soldier.  Of 
robust  constitution,  great  strength,  and  splendid  endurance,  he  has 
never  known  what  it  means  to  have  bad  health.  Never  obtrusive 
with  his  own  opinions,  he  is  under  all  circumstances  a  courteous 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  315 

and  obliging  gentleman,  tolerant  of  the  prejudices  of  others.  His 
student  mind  and  delight  in  reading  have  found  an  outcome  in  a 
well-stored  library,  in  which  are  quite  five  hundred  volumes  de- 
voted to  Ireland  and  Irish  subjects,  many  of  them  being  extremely 
rare  and  valuable  editions. 

Being  possessed  of  a  keen  business  instinct,  he  has  made  a  num- 
ber of  exceedingly  profitable  real  estate  investments  which  have 
assured  him  a  good  income  and  made  the  latter  years  of  a  peculiarly 
adventurous  life  and  a  most  interesting  career,  one  of  such  peace- 
ful and  happy  days  as  his  kindly  character  and  eminent  good  parts 
unquestionably  deserve. 


JOHN  JOSEPH  GUBBINS. 


John  Joseph  Gubbins  was  born  April  21st,  1869,  at  Kilmallock, 
County  Limerick,  Ireland,  in  which  town  his  father,  John  Joseph 
Gubbins,  was  a  carriage  builder  and  a  man  much  liked  and  very 
generally  respected  in  his  community.  Thirty  years  ago  he  was  an 
active  participant  in  the  Irish  troubles  of  that  time,  his  house 
being  searched  and  some  pikes  he  had  made  discovered.  Only  the 
assistance  of  influential  friends  prevented  him  from  getting  into 
serious  trouble.  He  died  in  1869.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  who  before  her  marriage  was  Mary  McCarthy,  was  a 
native  of  County  Cork,  and  belonged  to  an  old  and  influential  fam- 
ily, her  father,  William  McCarthy,  having  been  a  large  landed  pro- 
prietor, and  is  well  remembered  in  the  district  as  reaching  the 
advanced  age  of  one  hundred  and  eight  years.  Mrs.  Gubbins  is  still 
living  in  New  York  State. 


316  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  left  Ireland  with  his  mother  when 
fourteen  years  of  age,  and  arrived  in  America  came  on  at  once  to 
Chicago.  Before  leaving  his  native  country,  he  had  graduated  in 
the  national  schools,  and  upon  arrival  in  this  city  he  attended  the 
parochial  schools  for  three  years,  after  which  securing  a  position 
with  the  Mclntosh  Electric  Battery  Co.,  where  he  remained  a  year. 
His  next  employment  was  with  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy 
Railroad  as  errand  boy  in  the  freight  office  on  Canal  Street,  and 
in  which  connection,  being  from  time  to  time  promoted,  he  now 
holds  the  responsible  position  of  correspondence  clerk. 

Mr.  Gubbins'  determination  to  secure  a  thorough  education  led 
him,  even  after  he  had  found  employment,  to  continue  attending 
night  school,  first  at  the  Chicago  Athenaeum  for  two  years  and 
then  at  the  Lewis  Institute,  to  which  he  is  still  attached. 

Mr.  Gubbins  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  belongs  to  the  congrega- 
tion of  Our  Lady  of  Sorrows.  His  politics  are  Republican,  and  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  A  young  man  of  great  promise, 
if  the  justifiable  expectations  of  an  energetic  youth  be  fulfilled,  his 
career  should  be  such  as  will  be  a  pride  to  his  fellow  American 
Irish  in  this  great  city. 


JOHN   GAYNOR. 


There  are  few  men  of  Irish  birth  better  known  in  Chicago,  and 
none  more  highly  respected  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  John 
Gaynor,  the  prominent  Board  of  Trade  man. 

He  was  born  in  County  Tipperary,  April  24th,  1833,  and  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1849  with  his  father,  Nicholas,  his  mother, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  317 

Mary  (O'Brien)  Gaynor,  following  a  year  later.  The  father  of  Nich- 
olas Gaynor  had  moved  to  Tipperary  from  elsewhere  in  Ireland 
when  very  young  and  had  there  married  a  Miss  Lacy.  He  pos- 
sessed extensive  landed  interests  and  was  able  to  leave  all  his  chil- 
dren in  very  comfortable  circumstances.  On  his  death,  Nicholas 
Gaynor  took  charge  of  his  father's  farming  interests  and  other 
properties  until  the  heirs  decided  to  come  to  America.  This  was 
in  1849,  and  with  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch — then  sixteen 
years  of  age — a  settlement  was  made  in  the  City  of  Baltimore. 

John  Gaynor  had  been  educated  in  private  schools  in  Ireland 
and  also  by  his  father.  In  Baltimore  he  found  employment  in  the 
provision  house  of  Cassard  &  Son,  remaining  four  years,  and  then 
changing  to  McDaniel  &  McConsky  for  three  years.  In  his  duties 
he  traveled  through  the  South,  selling  provisions,  and  having  de- 
cided that  he  had  obtained  sufficient  experience,  he  now  started 
in  the  same  business  for  himself  in  Baltimore  and  continued  until 
he  came  to  Chicago,  twenty-seven  years  ago.  He  resumed  in  this 
city,  and  still  continues,  having  in  connection  therewith  consider- 
able transactions  on  the  Board  of  Trade.  He  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful, reaping  the  reward  of  indefatigable  energy  and  strict  atten- 
tion to  every  necessity  of  his  large  business  interests. 

He  was  married  to  Ellen  McDonald  in  Baltimore,  in  1856,  and 
they  have  had  ten  children,  five  boys — all  of  whom  died  young— 
and  five  daughters,  of  whom  there  are  four  surviving,  Mary  C., 
Ella  M.,  Sarah  G.,  and  Eose  B.,  all  being  married  with  the  exception 
of  the  second  last  named.  Mrs.  John  Gaynor,  who  belongs  to  an 
old  Quaker  family  on  her  grandfather's  side,  was  educated  at  the 
Visitation  Convent,  Frederick,  Md.,  where  she  was  trained  in  very 
strict  religious  views,  and  has  similarly  brought  up  her  own  chil- 
dren. I  [er  father  was  a  sea  captain,  who,  sailing  from  Baltimore, 
used  to  touch  at  every  large  port  in  the  world.  He  had  charge  of 
the  first  vessel  which  rounded  Cape  Horn,  after  the  discovery  of 


318  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

gold  in  California.  For  two  years  following  his  return  from  that 
voyage  he  was,  under  the  Buchanan  administration,  Port  Surveyor 
for  the  City  of  Baltimore. 

Mr.  John  Gaynor  is  in  his  religious  views  a  Roman  Catholic, 
while  in  politics  he  has  always  been  a  Democrat,  but  of  that  large 
section  which  favors  sound  money.  He  is  an  honorary  member  of 
the  Catholic  Library  Association  and  was  formerly  a  member  of 
the  Columbus  Club,  but  the  necessities  of  his  business  duties,  which 
have  prevented  his  very  social  disposition  from  having  its  way 
and  entertainments  in  his  house  of  general  occurrence  also  caused 
him  to  give  up  club  life. 


THOMAS   FRANCIS   HUNT. 

The  subject  of  the  present  sketch  is  a  young  American  Irish- 
man, who,  undeterred  by  difficulties,  unmindful  of  obstacles,  en- 
tirely unassisted  by  exterior  advantages,  has  yet  managed  to  win 
for  himself  fortune  and  reputation.  Born  in  Feuor  parish,  near 
Tram  ore,  County  Waterford,  Ireland,  of  a  good  old  Irish  family,  in 
March,  1858,  and  coming  alone  to  Chicago  at  an  early  age,  he  has, 
by  industry  and  honesty,  together  with  a  clear  head  and  a  firm  de- 
termination to  make  his  way  in  the  world,  placed  himself  in  a  posi- 
tion of  independence,  and  has  secured  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
all  who  have  watched  his  efforts.  His  parents  were  Richard  and 
Ellen  (Cochran)  Hunt,  his  father  being  a  well-to-do  and  highly  re- 
spected Irish  farmer,  whose  people  had  been  identified  with  the 
troubles  of  1798,  while  his  mother  came  of  a  Wexford  family  near 
Vinegar  Hill,  her  connections  also  being  prominent  in  the  troubles 
of  that  year.  She  died  in  1892. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  321 

Thomas  Fnuicis  Hunt,  now  a  man  bright  in  ideas,  rich  in  infor- 
mation, and  well  capable  of  taking  a  foremost  part  in  any  discus- 
sion upon  any  subject,  did  not  receive  many  educational  advan- 
tages when  young,  although  he  was  for  a  few  years  under  the 
charge  of  Father  Joy,  at  Fenor,  three  miles  from  Tramore,  Ireland. 
I  Ic  was  but  a  boy  of  thirteen  when  he  came  to  the  United  States  and 
direct  to  Chicago,  where  an  uncle  of  his,  John  Hunt,  a  well  known 
and  highly  valued  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  had 
made  his  home. 

Shortly  after  his  arrival  he  went  to  work  for  Ed  Dunn,  a  joiner, 
to  learn  that  trade,  and  remained  with  him  seven  years.  For  short 
periods  he  worked  for  other  joiners  until  finally,  being  determined 
to  thoroughly  master  the  trade,  he  attached  himself  to  Thomas 
Clark,  who  bore  the  reputation  of  one  of  the  best  joiners  of  Chi- 
cago. Dull  times,  little  work  doing,  and  pay  small  in  the  extreme, 
however,  speedily  disgusted  Mr.  Hunt  with  the  trade  he  had  chosen, 
and  he  determined  to  forsake  altogether,  and  so  thoroughly  tempted 
was  he  not  to  again  embrace  that  he  sold  his  whole  outfit  of  tools  to 
a  fellow  workman. 

He  was  now  determined  to  find  some  occupation  which  would 
give  a  fair  return  for  honest  work,  and  finally  decided  to  take  up 
Hie  wholesale  wine  and  liquor  business.  Several  years  having 
been  spent  at  the  corner  of  Washington  Boulevard  and  Halsted 
Street,  circumstances  forced  his  employer  to  give  up  his  lease  on 
the  premises,  and  advised  by  a  number  of  his  friends,  Mr.  Hunt  took 
the  lease  over  and  continued  the  business.  This  was  fourteen  years 
ago,  and  prosperity  with  him  since  that  time  has  been  unvarying 
in  its  character,  culminating  in  his  present  business  premises, 
which,  for  beauty  of  design  and  artistic  taste — all  the  work  being 
done  under  his  personal  and  peculiarly  qualified  superintendence 
—is  without  a  rival  in  the  city.  There  have  been  occasions,  of 
course,  when  his  business  has  experienced  the  ill  effects  of  the  late 


322  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF    THE 

years  of  depression,  but  to  him  such  have  been  but  an  experience 
of  the  kindly  estimation  in  which  Mr.  Hunt  is  held  by  the  numerous 
friends  he  has  been  fortunate  enough  to  make  during  his  years  of 
business  life.  In  this  instance  he  considers  his  gratitude  mainly 
due  to  the  late  Mr.  A.  M.  Billings,  the  well  known  banker,  who 
on  a  number  of  occasions,  proved  himself  his  faithful  and  well 
wishing  friend,  .as  he  so  oftentimes  showed  himself  the  friend  of 
hundreds  of  other  Irishmen  in  this  city,  not  merely  providing  them 
with  positions,  but  when  grown  old  in  his  service,  testifying  his  re- 
gard and  appreciation  by  life  pensions. 

Mr.  Hunt  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a  member  of  the  congrega- 
tion of  St.  Patrick's  Church,  while  in  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  In 
his  sentiments  and  his  ideas  he  is  a  true  Irishman,  no  movement 
for  the  help  of  his  countrymen,  either  in  his  native  land  or  in  this 
country,  ever  sought  his  co-operation  in  vain;  he  has  always  been 
free,  generous  and  patriotic,  and  to  a  large  extent  possesses  the 
natural  gift  of  wit.  He  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  at  one 
time  was  associated  with  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen 
and  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters,  and  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Continental  League. 


MARTIN  O'BRIEN. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Martin  O'Brien,  one  of  Chicago's  old 
time  and  best  known  citizens,  who  has  for  nearly  forty  years  led, 
as  well  as  controlled  in  Chicago  the  best  in  all  that  appertains  to 
art  in  its  highest  form,  was  born  at  Loughrea,  County  Galway,  Ire- 
land, November  4th,  1830.  His  father,  William  O'Brien,  was  a 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  323 

native  of  the  same  county,  and  one  of  the  leading  builders  of  that 
section  of  the  country,  as  was  also  his  father  before  him.  Wil- 
liam O'Brien  married  Susan  Howard,  and  in  1837,  together  with 
their  three  sons,  John,  Martin  and  William,  they  came  to  America, 
landing  in  the  fall  of  that  year  at  Quebec,  during  the  great  Papi- 
ueau  Rebellion.  Canada  being  at  that  time  greatly  disturbed,  a 
further  move  was  made  to  Burlington,  Vermont,  and  here  Mr. 
O'Brien  followed  his  former  occupation  of  a  builder  up  to  the  year 
1858,  when  he  decided  to  come  to  Chicago.  He  died  in  this  city, 
in  1882,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years,  and  his  wife  followed  him 
in  1888. 

Martin  O'Brien's  first  occupation  was  with  a  farmer,  for  whom 
he  worked  very  hard,  receiving  the  very  moderate  salary  of  two 
dollars  per  month.  The  hours  of  work  were  from  sunrise  to  sunset; 
and  after  returning  from  the  fields  he  had  still  other  duties  to  look 
after.  Necessarily  dissatisfied,  at  the  close  of  the  year  he  dissolved 
the  partnership  and  returned  to  Burlington,  where  he  very  soon 
secured  employment  as  cabin  boy  on  one  of  the  passenger  steamers 
on  Lake  Champlain,  receiving  six  dollars  per  month  for  the  season. 
This  work  was  more  pleasant,  and  he  followed  it  for  five  years; 
during  the  winter  doing  chores  for  his  board  and  attending  the 
district  school.  He  recalls  with  pride  how,  in  1871,  during  a  pleas- 
ure trip,  he  passed  up  the  lake  with  a  party  of  friends,  realizing 
one  of  his  early  ambitions;  and  it  is  needless  to  say,  he  enjoyed  the 
best  of  everything  the  steamer  could  furnish.  At  the  age  of  six- 
teen, too  mature  to  longer  serve  as  a  cabin  boy,  he  secured  work  as 
an  apprentice  in  a  machine  shop  and  brass  foundry,  which  failed, 
however,  at  the  end  of  the  year.  Having  taken  a  liking  for  machine 
and  engine  work,  and  being  unable  to  secure  any  in  Burlington,  he 
resolved  to  go  to  Lowell,  Massachusetts,  which  was  noted  for  its 
many  machine  shops,  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles  distant.  Of 
money  on  hand  his  stock  was  limited  to  two  or  three  dollars;  but 


324  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

full  of  determination  he  set  out  to  walk.  Arriving  at  last  in  Low- 
ell, be  found  nearly  every  shop  shut  down,  and  being  unable  to 
obtain  employment,  he  had  to  retrace  his  long  weary  tramp. 
Home  again,  he  shortly  after  this  apprenticed  himself  for  three 
years  to  John  Herrick,  the  chief  architect  and  builder  in  Burling- 
ton, at  a  salary  of  four  dollars  per  month,  "in  store  pay,"  this  being 
used  because  there  was  little  or  no  cash  money  in  circulation  in 
those  days,  and  for  a  week  or  month's  pay  an  order  on  some  family 
store  was  given  and  one  hundred  per  cent  profit  paid  on  whatever 
you  purchased.  At  that  time  New  England  rum,  made  from  molas- 
ses, was  the  favorite  beverage,  and  orders  on  a  small  block  of  wood 
were  sent  by  one  of  the  apprentices  to  "the  store;"  and  at  the  end 
of  the  month  the  storekeeper  brought  in  his  bushel  basket  full  of 
blocks,  or  orders  for  liquidation,  and  in  settlement  received  an 
order  from  Mr.  Herrick  on  some  other  store  for  the  amount. 

Mr.  O'Brien  remembers  distinctly  many  interesting  incidents 
connected  with  the  great  campaign  of  1840,  and  declares  it  was 
the  most  exciting  and  the  hottest  the  country  has  ever  known.  At 
the  time  he  was  but  ten  years  old,  but  all  the  events  are  fresh  in 
his  mind.  Burlington  was  the  hot  bed  of  both  Whigs  and  Demo- 
crats, all  the  big  meetings  being  held  there  and  a  big  dinner  given 
by  each  party  in  the  public  square  for  all  the  voters.  Floats  went 
through  the  streets  carrying  log  cabins  and  barrels  of  cider,  which 
was  freely  dealt  out  to  every  one.  The  rallying  cry  of  the  Whigs 
was,  "Log  Cabin  and  Hard  Cider,  Tippecanoe  and  Tyler,  too;  Van, 
Van,  the  Used  Up  Man."  The  first  referring  to  General  Harrison, 
and  the  latter  to  Martin  Van  Buren. 

After  serving  his  three  years  of  carpentering,  he  resolved  to 
say  farewell  to  his  New  England  home  and  go  to  New  York,  at 
that  time  the  Mecca  of  all  ambitious  young  men.  As  may  easily  be 
imagined,  it  was  not  possible  for  him  to  save  much  out  of  his  salary 
of  forty-eight  dollars  per  year,  and  he  was  therefore  absolutely 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  325 

without  funds  for  the  passage.     From  a  dear  friend  fce  managed 
to  obtain  a  loan  repayable  at  sight  for  a  sufficient  sum  for  the 
necessary  expenses.     Reaching  New  York  and  having  had  some 
experience  in  ship  journey,  he  at  once  secured  work  in  rebuilding 
the  Northern  Light,  a  California  steamer.    Mr.  O'Brien  liked  New 
York  and  for  some  time  did  extremely  well,  but  he  was  persuaded 
by  an  old  time  friend  to  come  to  Chicago,  in  1854,  at  the  time  the 
Crimean  War  was  in  progress  by  England  and  France  against  Rus- 
sia.   He  engaged  in  contracting  and  during  the  first  two  years  erect- 
ed a  number  of  fine  residences.    Then,  having  had  some  experience 
in  railroad  work,  he  went  to  work  for  the  Chicago  and  Milwaukee 
Railroad,  the  track  of  which  was  just  laid,  and  assisted  in  build- 
ing the  first  bridge  of  that  line  across  the  North  Branch.    When 
it  was  completed,  owing  to  a  miscalculation  of  the  engineer  who 
had  designed  and  drawn  the  plans,  although  intended  to  open  for 
the  passage  of  vessels,  it  was  found  impossible  to  open  it  by  hand, 
and  steam  and  electricity  had  not  as  yet  been  introduced.     Soon 
after  this  he  left  this  road  and  went  to  work  for  the  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin  Railroad,  now    the    great    North  Western,  operating 
some  ten  thousand  miles  of  track.    At  that  time  the  line  possessed 
only  about  twenty-five  miles  of  track  and  was  from  four  to  six 
months  in  arrears  in  payment  of  the  employes  and  other  creditors. 
However,  at  the  head  of  it  was  one  of  the  best  and  ablest  men  Chi- 
cago has  produced,  William  B.  Ogden,  and  his  energy  and  abilities 
very  soon  altered  the  complexion  of  its  affairs.    For  this  company 
Mr.  O'Brien  erected  several  water  tanks  and  tank  houses  along  the 
line  and  also  several  depots  as  well  as  a  large  freight  house  in  the 
city,  which  is  yet  standing. 

The  panic  of  '57  caused  a  very  severe  and  long  continued  busi- 
ness depression,  and  in  '59,  Chicago  being  very  dull,  Mr.  O'Brien 
went  south  for  the  winter,  settling  in  Huutsville,  Alabama,  and 
assisted  in  the  building  of  a  large  hotel.  The  Southern  people  and 


326  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  climate  were  both  to  his  liking,  and  but  for  sickness  in  his 
family  the  war  would  have  found  him  south  of  Mason's  and.Dixon's 
line. 

In  the  spring  of  1861  he  started  in  the  business  which  he  has 
so  successfully  carried  on  since,  dealing  in  fine  arts.  His  first 
venture  was  in  publishing  portraits  of  Bishop  Duggan  and  Rev. 
Dr.  Butler,  and  as  both  had  a  very  large  sale,  this  venture  in  the 
art  line  was  a  decided  success,  although  at  the  beginning  it  ap- 
peared likely  to  result  disastrously.  He  started  out  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  llth  of  April,  1861,  to  secure  subscribers.  Before  re- 
turning home  he  had  secured  twenty-one  orders,  but  next  morning 
the  news  was  received  of  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter,  and 
fearing  the  country  would  be  ruined,  they  were  nearly  all  counter- 
manded. Not  discouraged,  however,  Mr.  O'Brien  struggled  on,  the 
people  recovered  from  their  fright,  and  in  a,  few  months  business 
was  booming  and  continued  to  boom  until  1873.  His  first  place  of 
business  was  on  the  West  Side  of  the  city  on  the  corner  of  Lake  and 
Halsted  Streets,  and  thence  he  moved  to  South  Water  Street,  oc- 
cupying rooms  over  the  Board  of  Trade.  Three  flights  of  stairs, 
however,  to  be  climbed,  proved  distasteful  to  him,  and  in  a  few 
months  he  removed  to  206  State  Street,  just  south  of  Adams  Street, 
this  location  at  that  time  being  well  out  in  the  suburbs.  In  1863 
he  removed  to  122  Dearborn  Street,  in  the  heart  of  the  business  dis- 
trict, and  two  years  later,  hearing  that  a  Boston  house  of  high  re- 
pute was  preparing  to  start  a  first-class  gallery  in  a  good  location, 
he  secured  more  commodious  quarters  in  a  central  locality.  He, 
therefore,  removed  to  51  State  Street,  on  the  site  of  the  present 
Masonic  Temple,  and  there  fitted  up  a  very  complete  establishment. 
In  less  than  a  year  the  Boston  house  gave  up  the  fight  and  returned 
to  the  "Hub."  Burnt  out  in  1871  by  the  great  fire,  he  lost  not 
merely  his  store  and  his  books  and  records  of  outstanding  accounts 
but  also  his  home  and  furniture  on  Dearborn  Avenue;  and  was,  of 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  327 

course,  temporarily  crippled.  During  the  winter  of  1871  he  made 
no  move  towards  re-establishing  his  business,  for  all  the  insurance 
he  could  collect  was  barely  sufficient  to  liquidate  his  indebtedness, 
and  he  knew  well  that  the  people  were  in  no  position  to  expend 
money  on  luxuries.  The  following  spring,  however,  having  secured 
one  side  of  a  store  at  692  Wabash  Avenue,  south  of  Fourteenth 
Street,  he  once  more  set  to  work.  While  in  this  store,  for  the  first 
two  years  after  the  fire,  he  made  but  indifferent  progress,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1874  once  more  moved  into  the  city,  quarters  having 
been  secured  by  him  at  204  and  206  Wabash  Avenue,  directly  op- 
posite the  store  he  formerly  occupied  at  206  State  Street.  While 
occupying  this  store  a  second  fire  forced  him  to  remove  his  stock 
to  the  West  Side  for  safety.  In  1863,  while  occupying  the  Dear- 
born Street  store,  be  had  fitted  up  a  gallery  and  a  permanent  ex- 
hibition of  art  works,  the  first  attempt  of  this  sort  in  the  city,  and  at 
no  time  since  has  he  been  other  than  the  leader  in  his  line  of  busi- 
ness. In  connection  with  the  gallery  he  commenced  the  publica- 
tion of  the  first  art  journal  in  this  country,  an  enterprise  which  was 
so  bold  and  unexpected  that  it  led  the  New  York  World  scoffingly 
to  remark:  "Well,  what  next,  an  Art  Journal  in  Chicago."  Still, 
notwithstanding  New  York's  ridicule,  it  prospered,  as  shown  by  the 
fact  that  all  the  best  literary  papers  and  periodicals  of  the  country 
were  glad  to  exchange  with  the  Chicago  Art  Journal.  James  B. 
Runyon,  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Chicago  Times,  handled  the 
editorial  work  and  R.  R.  Donnelly  did  the  printing.  The  Journal 
was  folio  in  size,  dry  pressed,  and  printed  on  tinted  book  paper. 
After  successfully  establishing  the  Journal  and  securing  a  good 
circulation,  which  has  been  to  him  a  source  of  much  pride,  he 
found  it  drew  too  heavily  upon  his  time,  and  for  that  reason  was 
induced  to  part  with  it  to  James  F.  Aiken,  the  manager  of  the 
Crosby  Opera  House  Gallery,  who  later  sold  it  to  a  New  York 
publisher.  Mr.  O'Brien  would  pay  liberally  for  a  copy  of  the 
Journal  now. 


328  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OP    THE 

For  several  years  it  had  been  his  ambition  to  establish  the  finest 
art  store  in  the  country,  one  which  could  not  be  excelled  by  any 
either  in  the  East  or  West,  and  in  which  the  multitude  of  art 
lovers  would  take  a  hearty  pride.  Towards  carrying  out  this  pur- 
pose, he  resolved  to  erect  a  building  especially  adapted  to  the 
wants  of  his  business,  and  accordingly,  in  187G,  he  erected  the 
building  he  has  ever  since  occupied,  at  208  Wabash  Avenue,  a 
structure  which  in  every  way  fulfills  the  intent  for  which  it  was 
designed.  Even  to-day,  although  he  has  occupied  this  building 
more  than  twenty-one  years,  he  believes  it  would  be  impossible  to 
improve  it  for  the  business  for  which  it  was  intended. 

In  that  connection,  it  is  not  out  of  place  to  quote  from  the 
Chicago  Tribune  of  May  — ,  1876,  when,  in  regard  to  Mr.  O'Brien's 
enterprise,  it  said:  "Of  all  the  attractions  of  city  life  there  is  none 
of  so  chaste  and  elevating  a  character  as  those  connected  with  art. 
Mr.  Martin  O'Brien  has  been  identified  with  the  art  progress  of 
Chicago  from  its  earliest  beginning.  He  has  always  been  a  little 
in  advance  of  the  people,  leading  them  gradually  to  the  enjoyment 
and  appreciation  of  a  higher  order  of  art.  He  has  found  an  ample 
response  from  the  Chicago  public  and  the  flood  of  strangers  con- 
stantly pouring  into  the  city,  and  has  at  last  been  encouraged 
to  erect  a  handsome  building  devoted  exclusively  to  art.  His  new 
gallery  is  located  at  208  Wabash  Avenue,  and  is  in  every  way  as 
much  an  honor  to  Chicago  as  Goupil's  or  Schau's  art  rooms  are  to 
New  York.  Certainly  there  has  never  been  anything  in  the  West 
to  compare  with  it  in  the  elegance  of  its  decorations  and  the 
variety  of  art  treasures  of  which  it  is  the  depository.  Mr.  O'Brien's 
recognized  standing  in  the  art  business  has  enabled  him  to  secure 
one  of  the  largest  and  choicest  collections  of  oil  and  water  color 
paintings  ever  exhibited  in  Chicago.  He  has  thrown  his  gallery 
open  free  to  the  public,  and  visitors  may  be  sure  of  receiving  a  cor- 
dial welcome  and  the  most  courteous  attention." 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN   CHICAGO.  329 

Mr.  O'Brien's  eldest  son,  William  Vincent,  a  gentleman  of  re- 
fined and  cultivated  ability,  who  is  a  partner  and  largely  man- 
ages the  business  at  the  present  time,  visits  every  year  the  leading 
cities  of  Europe,  gathering  the  best  that  is  to  be  obtained  from 
those  sources  in  the  way  of  paintings,  water  colors  and  other  art 
works.  To  the  people  of  this  country,  the  house  is  well  known, 
and  very  high  credit  is  enjoyed  with  the  dealers  and  publishers 
both  here  and  in  all  the  art  centers  of  Europe. 

Mr.  O'Brien  is  in  religion  a  Roman  Catholic  and  in  politics  is 
independent,  caring  more  for  right  principles  and  right  men  than 
for  mere  party. 

In  1855  Mr.  O'Brien  married  Miss  Mary  Prendergast,  whom  he 
had  known  formerly  in  Burlington.  The  ceremony  was  celebrated 
by  the  Very  Rev.  Dr.  Dunn,  Vicar  General  of  the  Diocese,  in 
the  first  St.  Patrick's  Church  on  the  corner  of  Randolph  and  Des 
Plaines  Streets.  They  have  ten  children,  six  boys  and  four  girls, 
and  of  the  latter  three  are  married.  It  may  be  said  of  the  sons, 
that,  the  eldest,  as  before  stated,  is  associated  with  his  father  in 
business,  two  others  have  just  graduated  from  the  University  of 
Michigan  as  civil  and  electrical  engineers,  and  the  others  are  en- 
gaged in  mercantile  pursuits.  A  residence  was  purchased  by  Mr. 
O'Brien  in  1867  at  240  Dearborn  Avenue,  which  with  its  contents 
was  destroyed  in  the  fire.  On  the  same  site  he  built,  in  187H,  a 
handsome  three  story  and  basement  stone  front  house,  which  he 
and  his  family  still  occupy. 

Hale  and  hearty  and  a  man  of  excellent  constitution,  Mr. 
O'Brien  declares  he  feels  almost  as  young  as  he  did  forty  years 
ago,  notwithstanding  the  hard  work  and  the  various  vicissitudes 
and  trials  he  has  passed  through.  Desire  or  ambition  for  public 
office  has  never  caused  him  the  slightest  anxiety,  for  in  the  neces- 
sities of  his  business  and  the  care  of  a  large  and  interesting  family 

his  best  energies  have  been  quite  sufficiently  occupied. 
17 


330  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 


MICHAEL  B.  GEARON. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  Chicago's  best  known  Ameri- 
can Irishmen,  and  has  closely  identified  himself  with  every  move- 
ment in  recent  years  which  has  had  for  its  purpose  the  bettering 
the  condition  of  his  fellow  countrymen,  either  on  this  side  or  the 
other  of  the  broad  Atlantic. 

M.  B.  Gearon  was  born  in  historic  Tipperary,  Ireland,  Septem- 
ber 18th,  1854.  Of  his  parents,  John  and  Mary  Gearon,  his  father 
was  an  ardent  patriot,  who  suffered  for  his  Fenian  proclivities  and 
his  devotion  to  his  suffering  country  by  being  driven  into  exile  in 
1867.  Coming  to  the  United  States,  a  location  was  found  in  De- 
troit, Michigan,  whence  the  family  removed  to  Cherokee,  Iowa,  in 
1872,  and  John  Gearon  died  there  in  1887,  his  wife  following  him 
three  years  later. 

The  education  which  young  Gearon  obtained  in  the  school  of 
the  Christian  Brothers  of  his  native  land  was  sound  and  liberal 
and  continued  in  the  old  country  until,  having  reached  the  age  of 
sixteen,  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  America,  and  when  a  settle- 
ment was  made  in  Detroit,  his  studies  were  resumed  at  a  Normal 
school,  where  he  quickly  obtained  an  unusual  proficiency  in  all  gen- 
eral subjects,  graduating  in  1872. 

His  first  ambition  led  him  to  seek  a  journalistic  career,  and 
taking  up  active  newspaper  work,  he  assisted  in  the  organization  of 
the  Western  Catholic,  a  weekly  paper,  which  he  ran  for  three  years, 
when  he  moved  to  Iowa  and  found  a  position  on  the  editorial  staff 
of  the  Dupage  Telegraph.  Having  determinately  applied  himself 
to  the  study  of  law  in  Dupage,  he  obtained  admission  to  the  bar  in 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  331 

1877,  in  Iowa,  moving  three  years  later  to  Nebraska.  Here  he  prac- 
ticed for  a  couple  of  years  and  then  moved  to  Omaha,  where  he 
established,  in  1884,  the  Western  Celt,  at  the  request  of  the  Central 
Democratic  Committee.  A  little  later  he  moved  to  Greeley,  Neb. 
Here  his  success  in  the  profession  he  had  chosen  was  immediate  and 
considerable;  a  large  practice  was  worked  up,  as  well  as  the  repu- 
tation of  being  one  of  the  shrewdest  and  most  thorough  representa- 
tives of  his  profession  in  the  Western  States.  His  talents  and 
abilities  received  also  more  substantial  recognition  in  1889,  when 
he  became  State's  Attorney,  a  position  which  for  four  years  he 
filled  with  marked  power  and  ability. 

Having  determined  to  seek  the  Mecca  of  talent  and  energy,  he 
came  to  Chicago  in  1895,  and  in  conjunction  with  the  llev.  Thomas 
F.  Cashman  and  Mr.  D.  F.  Bremner,  established  the  Marquette  Col- 
onization Company,  of  this  city,  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  the  world, 
and  founded  with  the  intention  of  carrying  out  the  suggestion  con- 
tained in  the  encyclical  letter  of  his  Holiness,  Pope  Leo  XIII.,  by 
which  Irish  Catholics  might  be  enabled  to  acquire  comfortable 
homes.  The  success  of  the  organization,  of  which  Mr.  Gearon  was 
manager  and  counsel,  was  of  a  character  far  in  advance  of  the 
most  sanguine  anticipations,  and  in  results  exceeded  anything 
achieved  by  similar  undertakings. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  in  1877  at  Marcus,  Cher- 
okee Co.,  Iowa,  to  Miss  Ambona  Garvin,  a  lady  of  many  accom- 
plishments and  high  personal  gifts.  They  have  eight  children, 
seven  boys  and  a  daughter — Ambona  J.,  Frank  E.,  Will  E.,  Flor- 
ence, Gerald,  Gratten,  Merlin,  and  Laura,  and  of  these,  the  eldest 
son,  Ambona  J.,  is  a  graduate  of  Creighton  University  and  is  now 
studying  at  the  Chicago  College  of  Law. 

In  religious  views  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  while  in  politics  he 
has  always  been  a  consistent  Democrat  and  strongly  favors  free 
silver. 


332  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP    THE 

A  member  of  a  number  of  social  and  fraternal  organizations, 
for  years  past  he  has  taken  high  place  in  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hi- 
bernians, the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  is  also  prom- 
inent in  the  new  movement  whose  outcome  was  the  Irish  and  Na- 
tional Alliance.  A  patriotic  Irishman,  a  thorough  lawyer,  an  ever 
honorable  and  courteous  gentleman,  there  are  few  men  in  his  pro- 
fession who  are  held  in  higher  consideration  than  M.  B.  Gearon. 


MICHAEL   FRANCIS   GALLAGHER. 


Michael  Francis  Gallagher  is  a  young  Irish  American  who  is 
rapidly  coming  to  the  front  in  his  chosen  profession,  that  of  law. 
He  was  born  April  2d,  1874,  in  Sterling,  111.,  of  which  place  his 
father  was  one  of  the  early  settlers,  having  gone  there  about  the 
year  1839.  The  latter  was  a  native  of  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  and 
by  occupation  a  mason  contractor.  Among  other  works  of  his  that 
may  be  mentioned,  he  constructed  the  stone  culverts  along  the 
Iowa  division  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad,  when  that 
road  was  being  built.  He  died  in  1885.  His  wife,  the  mother  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  Mary  (Morris)  Gallagher,  of  Irish  ex- 
traction on  the  mother's  side,  and  whose  father  was  of  a  prominent 
English  family. 

Michael  Francis  Gallagher  attended  the  Sterling  public  school 
until  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age,  when  moving  to  Chicago  he 
took  a  course  at  a  Chicago  high  school.  Later  he  studied  for  two 
years  at  the  University  of  Chicago,  and  in  1895  graduated  at  the 
Chicago  College  of  Law,  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.  In  the  mean- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  333 

time,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty,  he  passed  the  Appellate  Court  ex- 
amination for  admission  to  the  bar,  standing  at  the  head  of  more 
than  seventy  applicants.  At  once  taking  up  his  profession,  he  en- 
tered the  office  of  G.  W.  Kretzinger,  one  of  the  leading  corporation 
lawyers  of  the  West,  and  began  to  perfect  himself  in  the  subtleties 
and  niceties  of  the  law. 

Mr.  Kretzinger,  being  the  General  Counsel  for  the  Louisville, 
New  Albany  &  Chicago  Railroad,  Mr.  Gallagher  through  him  be- 
came connected  with  some  highly  important  railroad  litigation, 
and  in  necessary  appearances  before  the  various  courts  of  this 
State  he  acquitted  himself  in  a  most  creditable  manner.  For  so 
young  a  lawyer,  the  work  he  has  done  has  been  of  an  extremely 
advanced  character,  and  has  been  transacted  in  such  a  way  as  to 
obtain  the  strongest  commendation  from  Mr.  Kretzinger,  who  has 
evidenced  his  high  opinion  by  entrusting  him  with  many  important 
legal  matters  pending  in  Chicago  and  other  parts  of  the  country. 

Mr.  Gallagher  is  gifted  in  a  marked  degree  with  the  spirit  of 
oratory  in  its  highest  sense  and  has  already  gained  some  fame  as 
a  speaker.  He  was  the  orator  of  his  class  at  the  Chicago  College 
of  Law,  and  was  chosen  by  that  institution  as  its  representative  at 
a  banquet  given  by  the  Chicago  Law  Students'  Association  at  the 
Auditorium,  in  April,  1895,  for  the  purpose  of  furthering  a  move- 
ment for  a  public  law  library  for  indigent  students,  and  although 
on  that  occasion  among  other  speakers  of  note  were  Luther  Laflin 
Mills  and  Lorin  C.  Collins,  Jr.,  Mr.  Gallagher  notwithstanding  re- 
ceived great  praise  and  numerous  congratulations  upon  his  effort. 

In  politics  Mr.  Gallagher  is  a  Democrat,  and  during  the  last 
campaign,  with  so  many  others,  he  followed  the  fortunes  of  the 
sound  money  branch  and  made  a  number  of  effective  speeches. 
Mr.  Gallagher,  true  to  the  religion  of  his  parents,  is  a  Koman  Cath- 
olic. 

An  earnest  and  untiring  student  not  only  of  the  law   but  of 


334  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

philosophy,  history  and  literature,  with  the  strongest  attachment 
and  love  for  his  chosen  profession,  Mr.  Gallagher  has  many  friends, 
who  esteem  him  for  his  personal  gifts,  pure  character  and  genial 
and  unassuming  ways,  while  his  past  work  is  an  assuring  omen  of 
his  future  success. 


WILLIAM  JOHN  GARVY. 


William  John  Garvy,  who  was  born  in  Chicago,  July  21st,  1871, 
comes  of  an  Irish  family  who  had  settled  in  Canada  some  time  dur- 
ing the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century.  His  father  was  John 
W.  Garvy,  a  native  of  Canada,  who  died  in  1894,  and  his  mother, 
now  living  in  this  city,  was  Mary  A.  (McLean)  Garvy,  who  is  of 
Scotch  birth. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  sent  to  St.  Mary's  (Jesuit)  Col- 
lege, in  Kansas,  at  the  early  age  of  eight  years,  and  finally  gradu- 
ated in  1892.  After  which  he  entered  the  University  at  George- 
town, D.  C.,  where  he  took  the  post  graduate  and  law  courses  and 
graduated  with  the  degrees  of  LL.  B.  and  A.  M.,  in  1894. 

Mr.  Garvy  then  returned  to  Chicago,  took  an  examination  by 
the  Appellate  Court,  and  received  a  license  to  practice  law  in  Oc- 
tober of  the  same  year.  A  partnership  was  formed  with  Mr.  S.  P. 
Douthart,  under  the  firm  name  of  Douthart  &  Garvy.  The  firm  has 
met  with  very  considerable  success,  and  is  now  in  the  enjoyment  of 
a  large  general  practice,  and  one  which  is  daily  increasing,  and  Mr. 
Garvy  having  already  demonstrated  the  possession  of  professional 
abilities  of  a  very  high  order,  is  unquestionably  to  be  reckoned 
among  the  young  men  of  promising  careers  in  this  city. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  335 

In  religion  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a  member  of  the  congre- 
gation of  the  Jesuit  Church.  In  his  politics,  during  the  last  cam- 
paign, he  gave  his  support  to  the  Republican  party,  as  there  was 
much  in  the  platform  of  the  Democratic  party  with  which  he 
claimed  it  was  impossible  to  sympathize. 


JOHN   O'CONNELL. 


The  successful  business  man,  the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes, 
esteemed  by  his  friends  and  honored  in  all  his  business  connections 
stands  in  a  position  where  he  has  none  to  envy  and  many  who  may 
envy  him. 

John  O'Connell  was  born  in  Chicago,  October  5,  1861.  His 
father,  John,  was  born  in  County  Cork  in  1828  and  died  iii  1890, 
while  his  mother,  Johanna  O'Conuell,  was  born  in  Limerick,  1831. 
They  came  to  Chicago  in  1854,  and  engaging  in  the  tailoring  busi- 
ness, founded  the  firm,  which  is  to-day  in  such  a.  flourishing  condi- 
tion. 

Young  O'Connell  was  educated  at  St.  Ignatius  College  in  this 
city.  Schooling  over,  he  at  once  began  a  two  years'  apprenticeship 
in  the  tailoring  business,  after  which  he  entered  the  establishment 
of  his  father.  The  firm  name  was  then  Grus  &  O'Connell,  but 
later  his  father  and  himself  set  up  in  business  together  and  so  con- 
tinued until  the  former's  death,  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
became  sole  representative.  Under  his  charge  and  ever  careful 
attention  the  business  has  prospered  greatly.  His  business  deal- 


336  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 

ings  are  all  of  the  best  character  and  he  numbers  among  his  large 
patronage  some  of  Chicago's  leading  citizens. 

In  his  political  ideas,  Mr.  O'Connell  is  and  has  always  been 
a  Democrat.  He  is  unmarried,  and  displays  his  filial  devotion  by 
the  care  he  bestows  upon  his  mother,  who  resides  in  this  city. 


DANIEL  J.  MCELHERNE. 


Daniel  J.  McElherne,  though  among  the  younger  members  of  the 
Chicago  bar,  has  already  met  with  marked  success  and  appreciation 
in  his  profession  and  has  accomplished  some  results  of  interest  and 
importance  to  the  community  at  large. 

He  was  born  at  Jolict,  Ills.,  September  llth,  1864,  his  parents, 
the  late  Daniel  R.  McElherne  and  Eleanor  McElherue,  having  been 
among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Will  County. 

Daniel  J.  received  a  primary  education  in  the  public  and  high 
schools  of  his  native  city  and  afterwards  attended  the  Niagara  Uni- 
versity at  Niagara  Falls,  New  York,  where  he  graduated  in  1885. 
After  leaving  college,  Mr.  McElherne  read  law  in  the  offices  of 
Haley  &  O'Donnell  and  E.  Meers  of  Joliet,  and  after  admission  to 
the  bar  practiced  law  there  for  one  year,  when  he  came  to  Chicago 
and  until  1892  was  in  active  practice  at  79  Clark  Street.  In  that 
year  he  was  appointed  assistant  State's  Attorney  under  Jacob  J. 
Kern,  and  served  during  the  latter's  full  term,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  Mr.  McElherue  started  in  practice  for  himself  in  his  present 
offices  in  the  Unity  Building. 

While  in  the  State's  Attorney's  office  he  was  connected  with 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  339 

some  of  the  most  important  trial  cases,  among  which  may  be  men- 
tioned the  prosecution  of  Charles  Dix  and  others  for  the  murder  of 
Frank  White.  Far  more  notable  than  any  of  the  others,  however, 
with  which  Mr.  McElherne  has  been  connected,  and  indeed  one  of 
the  most  important  cases  in  the  history  of  Chicago,  was  the  prose- 
cution of  two  policemen  who  were  charged  with  participating 
in  the  conspiracy  to  prevent  voters,  during  the  election  of  1894, 
from  freely  exercising  the  rights  of  suffrage,  and  in  which  he 
was  associated  with  William  S.  Forrest.  The  circumstances 
will  be  recalled, — at  one  of  the  poling  places  on  the  West  Side, 
a  dead  line  was  formed  and  retained  from  twelve  o'clock  until 
four,  to  prevent  voters  from  approaching.  The  two  policemen  men- 
tioned, against  whom  prosecution  was  instituted,  were  in  charge, 
and  it  was  successfully  contended  by  Mr.  McElherue,  as  a  proposi- 
tion of  law,  that  while  a  person  standing  by  when  a  crime  is  being 
committed,  but  not  aiding,  abetting  or  encouraging  the  same,  is  not 
guilty  of  the  crime  as  an  accessory,  yet,  where  it  becomes  the  duty 
of  one  standing  by  during  the  perpetration  of  an  offense  to  inter- 
fere, as  in  the  case  of  an  officer  of  the  law,  and  to  endeavor  to  pre- 
vent to  the  utmost  of  his  power  and  call  upon  bystanders  for  assist- 
ance, and  he  refuses  or  neglects  to  do  so,  he  is  guilty  as  an  accessory 
before  the  fact  The  trial  was  a  notable  one,  and  has  had  a  bene- 
ficial influence  on  the  conduct  of  officers  at  polling  places  since  that 
time.  One  of  Chicago's  most  notable  criminal  lawyers  says  of  Mr. 
McElherne,  with  whom  he  has  tried  numerous  cases,  and  to  whom 
has  also,  in  a  number,  been  opposed,  "Mr.  McElherne  is  a  most 
effective  cross  examiner,  has  no  stereotyped  manner,  manages  a 
case  cleverly,  and  is  also  a  good  speaker,  effective  with  the  jury, 
gaining  their  respect  and  confidence,  and  at  the  same  time  fre- 
quently has  been  complimented  by  the  court  for  his  ability  and 
sincerity."  On  another  occasion  from  the  same,  came  the  remark, 
"It  would  be  impossible  for  Mr.  McElherne  to  prosecute  a  man  if 


340  BIOGRAPHICAL,   HISTORY    OF   THE 

convinced  he  is  not  guilty,"  and  that  about  his  only  fault  lay  in  his 
extreme  modesty. 

Mr.  McElherne  is  a  member  of  the  National  Union,  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  and  also  of  the  Sheridan  Club.  A  man  of  studious 
habits  and  an  intense  lover  of  literature  outside  of  his  continual 
legal  studies,  he  possesses  a  most  pleasing  personality,  and  is  held 
in  the  warmest  regard  by  a  numerous  circle  of  friends  for  his 
estimable  qualities  both  of  mind  and  heart. 


JOHN  O'BRIEN. 


Another  of  Chicago's  prominent  business  men  is  the  subject 
of  the  present  sketch.  A  man  of  energy,  difficulties  he  has  never 
feared,  a  man  of  ambition,  his  mind  was  set  on  making  a  success 
and  undeterred  by  obstacles,  he  stands  to-day  the  head  of  the 
second  largest  lumber  firm  in  this  vast  country. 

Mr.  O'Brien  was  born  in  Tralee,  County  of  Kerry,  Ireland,  Jan- 
uary 6th,  1847.  His  parents  are  Patrick  and  Mary  (Forham) 
O'Brien.  Mr.  O'Brien,  senior,  was  a  well-to-do  farmer  and  young 
John  was  given  a  good  education  at  the  Christian  Brothers'  Col- 
lege of  Tralee.  The  father  wishing  to  better  his  condition  came  to 
the  New  World  in  1863  and  located  at  White  Lake,  Michigan, 
engaging  in  the  lumber  business.  The  glowing  accounts  of  what 
could  be  done  in  America  sent  by  him  to  his  family  in  Ireland 
caused  young  John,  then  nineteen  years  of  age,  to  make  up  his 
mind  to  emigrate  also,  and  this  he  did  in  1866,  the  other  members 
of  1he  family  following  in  1873. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  341 

For  a  short  time  young  John  assisted  his  father  in  the  busi- 
ness at  White  Lake,  and  then  came  to  Chicago,  entering  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Dalton  Brothers  in  1866,  with  whom  he  remained  three 
years  as  office  and  errand  boy,  at  the  same  time  learning  the  lum- 
ber business.  So  attentive  did  he  show  himself  to  the  business, 
and  so  bright  were  his  ideas,  that  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  was 
offered  a  position  as  yard  foreman  and  salesman  by  Hartman  & 
Graham,  and  in  that  capacity  he  continued  for  five  years,  at  the 
end  of  which  time,  his  reputation  was  such  in  the  lumber  world 
both  as  a  business  man  and  a  judge  of  lumber,  that  he  was  offered 
the  vice  presidency  of  the  B.  L.  Anderson  Company  and  held  that 
position  for  five  years,  when  he  went  into  partnership  with  Mr. 
Doyle  and  opened  a  yard  under  the  firm  name  of  Doyle  &  O'Brien, 
on  Archer  Avenue.  This  firm  remained  in  existence  three  years, 
when  Mr.  Doyle  retired,  and  the  firm  of  O'Brien,  Green  &  Company 
was  formed,  consisting  of  Mr.  O'Brien,  George  Green  and  George 
G.  Wilcox.  Mr.  Green  retiring  in  1893,  the  corporation  now  widely 
known  as  the  John  O'Brien  Lumber  Company  was  formed.  The 
firm  does  an  enormous  lumber  business,  buying  each  year  from  ten 
to  twelve  million  logs  which  are  sawed  in  their  own  mills  and 
shipped  to  their  yards  in  Chicago.  In  fact,  as  before  mentioned, 
there  is  but  one  lumber  yard  in  Chicago  which  can  show  a  larger 
volume  of  business  than  is  done  by  the  John  O'Brien  Lumber 
Company. 

Mr.  O'Brien  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Lane  in  1870,  and  they 
have  had  nine  children — three  boys  and  six  girls.  ITe  is  a  member 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  belongs  to  the  Sheridan  Club,  and 
in  politics  is  a  strong  Cleveland  Democrat,  believing  that  the 
Democratic  party  will  make  a  grave  mistake  if  they  favor  the 
16  to  1  idea,  as  the  American  people  cannot  afford  to  be  dishonest. 

His  reputation  as  a  business  man  has  been  won  by  sterling 
qualities  of  head  and  heart.  The  honest  purposes  upon  which  his 


342  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

life  has  beeii  regulated  he  looks  for  in  others  and  .in  the  business 
world  the  word  of  John  O'Brien  is  as  good  as  another's  bond.  In 
manner  ever  genial  and  pleasant,  his  friends  are  many  and  are 
attached  to  him  by  sentiments  of  the  highest  respect  and  truest 
esteem. 


DAVID   LANDRETH   O'NEILL. 


The  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  whose  general  popularity 
throughout  the  community  was  evinced  by  his  election  recently 
as  secretary  of  the  Catholic  Benevolent  Legion,  was  born  in  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  April  23d,  1853,  his  parents  being  Thomas  and  Rose 
Ann  (Blunden)  O'Neill.  Thomas  O'Neill  was  also  a  native  of  Phil- 
adelphia, while  his  father,  John  O'Neill,  was  born  in  County  Kerry, 
Ireland.  Thomas  O'Neill  still  resides  in  Philadelphia,  where  he 
is  a  prominent  citizen  and  held  in  the  highest  respect,  having  been 
connected  with  the  well  known  seed  house  of  David  Landreth  & 
Sous  for  over  fifty-five  years.  He  is  the  author  of  a  book  called 
Reason,  Religion  and  Science,  which  received  very  great  commen- 
dation. 

David  Landreth  O'Neill  attended  the  public  schools  and  the  La 
Salle  College  of  Philadelphia,  later  taking  a  course  at  the  College 
of  the  Holy  Cross,  of  Worcester,  Mass.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  a 
position  was  secured  by  him  in  a  hardware  store  in  Philadelphia, 
where  he  remained  until  1880,  when  he  decided  to  locate  in  Chicago. 
His  first  employment  in  this  city  was  with  the  hardware  house 
of  Orr  &  Lockett,  where  he  remained  as  salesman  for  two  years, 
he  then  finding  a  position  with  William  Blair  &  Co.,  and  at  the 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  343 

end  of  four  years  was  promoted  to  be  manager  of  the  city  depart- 
ment. When  William  Blair  &  Co.  sold  out  in  1891  to  Horton, 
Gilmore,  McWilliams  &  Co.,  Mr.  O'Neill  retained  his  position  with 
the  new  concern,  and  is  now  one  of  its  most  responsible  and  valued 
officials. 

Mr.  O'Neill  was  married  April  13th,  1887,  to  Kate  Carmody, 
a  Chicago  lady,  and  they  have  a  family  of  two  children.  In  his 
religious  views  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a  member  of  the  con- 
gregation of  St.  Jarlath's  Church,  while  in  his  political  affiliations 
he  is  independent. 

Mr.  O'Neill  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Royal  League  and  Vice 
President  of  the  Vernon  Council,  which  has  no  less  than  five  hun- 
dred members,  while  as  before  mentioned,  he  was  lately  elected 
secretary  of  the  state  organization  of  the  Catholic  Benevolent 
Legion. 


MICHAEL   RYAN. 

Michael  Ryan,  who  was  for  many  years  Alderman  for  the  Fif- 
teenth Ward,  was  born  Easter  Sunday,  1846,  in  Tipperary,  Ireland, 
of  which  his  father,  Michael,  and  his  mother,  Catherine  (Gleeson) 
Ryan,  were  both  natives.  The  little  schooling  which  our  subject 
was*  fortunate  enough  to  receive,  was  obtained  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  place,  but  at  the  early  age  of  twelve  he  was  compelled 
to  leave  his  home  and  to  set  out  for  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  to  join  an 
elder  brother,  who,  having  preceded  him  some  years  before,  was 
engaged  in  the  plumbing  business  in  that  city.  Arrived  there,  he 
at  once  began,  under  his  brother's  direction,  to  learn  that  trade, 
at  which  he  worked  for  seven  years  in  that  city. 


344  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

A  move  was  made  by  him  to  Chicago,  in  1867,  and  having  ob- 
tained employment  for  three  years  in  the  plumbing  business,  he 
embarked  in  business  on  his  own  account  in  1870.  The  following 
year,  his  brother,  Thomas  Ryan,  came  from  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  and 
they  went  into  business  together  on  Milwaukee  Avenue,  and  so 
remained  until  1895,  when  the  latter  retired,  and  M.  Ryan  took  his 
son,  Michael  T.,  into  partnership. 

From  early  youth  Mr.  Ryan  had  taken  a  great  interest  in  poli- 
tics, and  particularly  in  such  matters  as  were  of  interest  to  the 
Fourteenth  and  Fifteenth  Wards  and  the  northwest  portion  of 
the  city.  Always  devoted  to  the  principles  of  the  Democratic 
party,  he  has  been  active  for  its  interests,  and  being  a  bright  and 
energetic  worker,  he  quickly  attracted  the  attention  of  the  leaders 
of  his  ward,  and  received,  in  1874,  the  nomination  for  the  office  of 
Alderman.  He  was  elected  without  difficulty,  and  during  the  next 
seventeen  years  held  the  office,  being  re-elected  for  ensuing  terms  of 
two  years  each.  While  in  the  City  Council  he  was  a  recognized 
power  and  served  on  all  of  the  important  committees.  Great  in- 
terest was  shown  by  him  in  the  Chicago  Drainage  question,  and 
he  was  also  a  member  of  the  World's  Fair  Committee  from  the 
Board  of  Aldermen.  Unceasingly  he  has  striven  for  the  interest 
of  his  own  district,  and  every  improvement  that  section  is  most 
proud  of  owes  a  great  deal  to  his  unremitting  labors,  for  during 
his  long  term  of  office  he  has  caused  no  less  than  f  15,000,000  to  be 
expended  on  the  public  improvements  of  his  district. 

Mr.  Ryan  married  Annie  Feeney,  August  17th,  1865,  in  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio.  The  lady  was  a  native  of  Roscrea,  Tipperary,  Ireland, 
and  they  have  had  thirteen  children,  of  whom  six  are  living — James 
J.  is  a  lawyer;  Michael  T.  is  in  business  with  his  father;  Robert 
E. ;  Sarah ;  John  M. ;  and  Mary  C. 

When  the  Irish  American  Club  was  in  existence,  Mr.  Ryan  was 
a  prominent  member.  He  is  also  a  member  of  many  beneficiary 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  345 

societies.  He  has  traveled  extensively  both  in  this  country  and  in 
Europe,  and  in  religion  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a  member  of  the 
congregation  of  St.  Sylvester's  Church. 

A  man  of  strong  personality,  pleasing  manner,  and  ever  liberal 
and  courteous  treatment,  he  possesses  a  host  of  friends,  who  esteem 
him  for  his  many  good  personal  qualities,  and  have  infinite  respect 
for  his  strong  business  qualifications. 


HENRY   POWERS. 


ITenry  Powers  was  born  about  sixty  years  ago  in  the  County  of 
Tipperary,  Ireland,  his  parents  being  John  and  Mary  (Conners) 
Powers.  The  father  was  a  prominent  man  in  his  section  of  the 
country  and  a  warm  friend  and  admirer  of  Daniel  O'Connell.  He 
married  Mary  Conners,  a  member  of  a  distinguished  Tipperary 
family  and  at  the  age  of  fifty-two  died  in  1871. 

The  subject  of  the  present  sketch  attended  the  national  schools 
of  his  native  town  and  received  instruction  from  private  tutors 
until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  work  for  his 
father,  an  extensive  butcher  and  packer  at  Nenagh  and  who  was 
accustomed  to  visit  the  various  fairs  for  the  purpose  of  buying  hogs. 
At  that  time  he  became  well  acquainted  with  the  Hon.  J.  F.  Fin- 
erty,  who  was  attending  school  in  that  town,  and  also  with  Alder- 
man Michael  Ryan.  With  his  father  he  remained  until  he  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  married  Jane  Darcy,  one  of  old 
and  honorable  stock,  her  family  having  for  five  generations  in  suc- 
cession kept  a  hotel.  They  have  had  ten  children,  four  living, 


346  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

among  whom  is  Harry  Powers,  the  popular  representative  of  Hoo- 
ley's  Theater. 

Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Henry  Powers  embarked  in  busi- 
ness for  himself,  and  in  1865  sailed  for  America  and  located  in  Chi- 
cago, where  he  went  into  the  butcher  business.  Very  considerable 
success  has  crowned  his  efforts  and  since  that  time  he  has  conduct- 
ed meat  markets  in  several  portions  of  the  city. 

In  his  religion  Mr.  Powers  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  belongs  to 
the  Cathedral  of  the  Holy  Name  parish.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  and  for  six  years  has  been  treasurer 
of  the  Sacred  Heart  Court  No.  3.  A  Democrat  in  his  political  views, 
he  has  at  all  times  strongly  interested  himself  in  all  Irish  affairs, 
and  his  opinions  are  sought  and  respected  among  the  large  circle 
of  friends  he  has  in  his  many  years  in  Chicago  managed  to  acquire. 


THEODORE   G.   CASE. 


Theodore  G.  Case,  it  is  almost  unnecessary  to  state,  is  among 
the  leaders  of  the  Chicago  bar,  and  he  takes  that  rank  not  only 
from  his  versatile  abilities  and  the  masterly  and  eloquent  power, 
which  has  gained  for  him  the  distinction  of  being  perhaps  the  best 
cross  examiner  in  the  West,  but  also  because  to  him  is  due  the  short 
cause  calendar  law,  by  virtue  of  which  over  fifty  thousand  law  suits 
have  been  finally  disposed  of  and  the  laws'  delays  overcome. 

He  was  born  in  Castleton,  Rensselaer  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1853, 
receiving  his  education  in  the  Collegiate  Institute,  Newton,  N.  Y., 
and  afterwards  in  the  University  of  Michigan,  whence  he  gradu- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  349 

ated  in  1870  as  a  pharmaceutical  chemist.  For  a  while  he  was  in- 
terested in  railroad  construction  in  Texas,  but  in  1873  he  decided 
to  study  law,,  towards  which  he  unquestionably  had  a  strong 
natural  bent  The  practical  study  of  that  profession  was  com- 
menced by  him  with  Linn  &  Babbitt  of  Jersey  City  and  later  on 
he  was  with  the  Hon.  William  M.  Evarts,  at  the  same  time  attend- 
ing the  law  school  of  New  York  City.  He  devoted  special  atten- 
tion to  corporation  law,  in  which  he  speedily  became  quite  an 
expert,  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  after  a  short  period  of  general 
practice  in  New  York  he  obtained  the  position  of  general  counsel 
to  the  Green  Bay  &  Minnesota  Railroad  Company,  and  conse- 
quently found  it  necessary  to  remove  in  1878  to  Green  Bay,  Wis- 
consin. On  the  re-organization  of  the  company  into  the  Green 
Bay,  Winona  &  St.  Paul  Railroad  Company,  Mr.  Case  became  its 
general  attorney.  In  the  position  of  attorney  for  the  Farmers' 
Loan  and  Trust  Company  he  was  engaged  to  foreclose  the  first 
and  second  mortgages  upon  the  railroad  and  other  appurtenances 
of  the  Green  Bay  &  Minnesota  Railroad  Company,  and  obtained 
the  decree  for  his  client  of  over  six  million  dollars,  notwithstand- 
ing that  the  chief  legal  talent  of  the  state  was  employed  against 
him. 

In  1884  Mr.  Case  was  retained  by  the  bondholders  of  the  St. 
Louis,  Hannibal  &  Keokuk  Railroad  Company,  and  in  conse- 
quence of  the  onerous  duties  involved,  resigned  his  position  with 
the  Wisconsin  road  and  removed  to  St.  Louis.  Two  years  later  he 
came  to  Chicago,  and  speedily  took  his  place  among  the  lead- 
ing lights  of  the  Chicago  bar.  As  a  special  pleader  lie  possesses 
few  equals.  His  eloquence  and  skill  in  marshalling  all  the  salient 
facts  and  circumstances,  combined  with  eminent  logical  and  dia- 
lectical ability  have  won  for  him  many  a  case;  his  voice,  too, 
though  persuasive  and  well  modulated,  is  powerful  and  ringing 
as  the  occasion  demands.  Among  the  celebrated  cases  in  the 

18 


350  BIOGRAPHICAL,   HISTORY    OF    THE 

annals  of  Chicago's  courts  that  have  secured  for  Mr.  Case  a  lasting 
renown  may  be  mentioned  the  Bowman  divorce  and  the  Henry 
Schwartz  litigations.     The  latter  has  passed  into  history  as  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  trials  on  circumstantial  evidence  on  record. 
To  quote  from  a  review  published  after  the  trial:     "His  defense 
in  the  case  of  Henry  Schwartz,  who  was  charged,  in  connection 
with  Newton  Wall,  with  the  murder  of  Kellogg  Michaels,  the  ex- 
press messenger  on  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  &  Pacific  Railroad, 
and  for  the  robbery  of  the  safe  of  the  United  States  Express  Com- 
pany, was  a  masterpiece.     The  trial  lasted  six  weeks,  Mr.  Case 
being  leading  counsel  for  the  defense;   his  cross-examination  was 
reaching  and  effectual  and  displayed  the  greatest  legal  acumen. 
His  closing  address,  lasting  four  hours,  was  brilliant,  fervid  and 
convincing,  and,  it  is  universally  conceded,  saved  his  client  from 
the    gallows."     The    well    remembered    case    of  Jessie  Krueger 
against  the  West  Chicago  Street  Railroad  Company  may  also  be 
mentioned,  in  which  the  girl  sued  the  company  for  damages  for 
the  loss  of  one  leg  near  the  thigh,  securing  a  verdict  from  the  jury 
of  |50,000,  one  of  the  highest  awards  for  damages  recorded,  a  vic- 
tory that  added  another  link  to  the  already  large  chain  of  tri- 
umphs of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  more  especially  as  Mr.  Case 
had  the  eloquence  and  skill  of  Senator  William  E.  Mason  arrayed 
against  him.     In  the  defense  of  Peter  Madden,  also,  who  was  in- 
dicted under  what  is  known  in  Illinois  as  the  "Habitual  Criminal 
Act,"  Mr.  Case  raised  legal  points  in  his  defense  that  completely 
revolutionized  the  customary  practice  in  the  criminal  courts  of 
Chicago,  by  compelling  the  prosecution  to  try  prisoners  at  or  be- 
fore their  second  term  after  the  commitment  of  such  prisoners  to 
the  county  jail  had  taken  place. 

Mr.  Case  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  has  frequently  given 
his  time  and  talents  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  his  party; 
these  have  been  highly  appreciated,  as  he  is  considered  one  of  the 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN   CHICAGO.  351 

most  forcible  and  eloquent  platform  speakers.  Three  times  the 
nomination  for  Congress  has  been  tendered  him,  and  twice  he  has 
been  urgently  requested  to  accept  a  judgeship,  but  ^has  been 
forced  to  refuse  those  honors  on  account  of  the  onerous  and  exact- 
ing duties  in  connection  with  his  practice. 

Theodore  G.  Case  is  senior  partner  in  the  firm  of  Case  &  Hogan. 
The  ancestors  of  Mr.  Case,  on  the  father's  side,  came  to  this  coun- 
try many  generations  back;  but  it  is  to  the  Cornells,  on  the  moth- 
er's side,  to  whom  he  owes  what  Irish  blood  he  is  proud  to  possess. 

Mr.  Case  has  allowed  himself  the  time  to  cross  the  ocean 
twice,  visiting  the  leading  cities  and  points  of  interest  in  Europe 
on  both  occasions.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  physique  and  of  command- 
ing presence,  of  courteous  manners  and  warm-hearted  disposition, 
his  kind  heart  and  love  of  justice  and  right  having  been  shown  in 
many  of  the  cases  he  has  handled;  more  prominently,  perhaps,  in 
the  case  of  Jessie  Krueger,  just  referred  to,  and  also  in  his  efforts 
to  imprint  the  short  cause  calendar  law  among  the  statutes  of  our 
state,  not  so  much  for  his  own  advantage  as  for  the  benefit  of  the 
public  generally.  Those  admirable  traits  of  mind  and  heart  are 
warmly  attested  to  by  his  host  of  devoted  friends,  who  respect  and 
honor  him  not  merely  for  his  professional  abilities,  but  his  high 
personal  qualities. 


JAMES  PEEVEY. 


Ex-Alderman  James  Peevey  was  born  in  the  city  of  Waterford, 
Ireland,  in  the  year  1846.  His  parents  were  John  and  Mary  (Fitz- 
gerald) Peevey,  his  mother  being  a  native  of  Waterford,  and  his 
father  born  in  England.  The  latter,  however,  was  an  Irishman 


352  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OP    THE 

at  heart,  and  it  was  his  public  advocacy  of  Ireland's  rights  that 
forced  him  to  leave  Waterford.  At  this  time — in  1848 — James 
Peevey  was  but  two  years  of  age;  he  sailed  for  America  with  his 
father  and  the  late  Mark  Sheridan.  Having  settled  in  St,  Louis, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  there  at  the  Christian 
Brothers  College,  which  he  left  at  eighteen,  going  to  California  and 
there  remaining  a  couple  of  years.  Returning  to  St.  Louis,  he  en- 
gaged extensively  in  the  cattle  business,  buying  and  shipping  to 
Chicago.  On  one  of  his  visits  to  this  city,  he  came  to  the  conclu- 
sion to  remain,  believing  that  Chicago  afforded  him  larger  oppor- 
tunities for  a  business  enterprise  of  the  character  he  was  handling. 
He  immediately  took  up  his  residence  and  established  himself  in 
business.  The  cattle  trade  prospered  and  upon  the  opening  of  the 
Jackson  Street  Market,  Mr.  Peevey  located  in  one  of  the  depart- 
ments and  began  a  flourishing  business  in  the  wholesale  beef  line, 
transacting  some  of  the  largest  deals  in  the  trade,  in  one  week 
alone  killing  and  disposing  of  1,800  cattle.  At.  last  a  change 
came,  and  as  the  result  of  several  unfortunate  investments,  he 
became  a  victim  to  the  ups  and  downs  so  generally  incidental  to 
commercial  life.  His  manliness  and  high  principles  now  came  to  the 
front,  and  so  soon  as  his  energies  could  once  place  him  on  his  feet, 
every  dollar  of  his  liabilities  was  paid.  The  natural  result  fol- 
lowed, that  no  man  ever  possessed  a  higher  reputation  in  the  busi- 
ness history  of  the  stock  yards,  and  no  one  was  able  to  secure 
quicker  or  better  credit.  Similar  esteem  was  given  him  in  general 
social  circles,  and  in  the  high  feelings  of  honor  and  respect  his 
family  of  course  participated. 

Mr.  Peevey's  entry  into  the  political  field  took  place  in  1880, 
and  at  a  time  when  it  was  regarded  as  positively  hopeless  for  a 
Democrat  to  look  for  any  recognition  in  the  Ninth  Ward.  His 
party  in  that  locality,  however,  decided  upon  Mr.  Peevey  as  their 
candidate  for  alderman,  depending  entirely  on  his  personal  popu- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  353 

larky,  his  well  kiiown  honesty  of  purpose,  and  the  untiring  energy 
which  had  ever  characterized  him  to  secure  success  at  the  polls. 
Mr.  Peevey  was  sucessful  and  obtained  election  by  a  substantial 
majority,  a  result  which  was  a  practical  illustration  of  the  popular 
personal  regard  in  which  he  was  held.  His  record  in  the  Council 
was  a  thorough  confirmation  of  what  was  expected,  and  so  en- 
deared him  to  his  constituents  that  his  re-election  to  the  Council 
was  carried  by  an  overwhelming  majority. 

During  the  few  years  preceding  his  death,  which  occurred  July 
18th,  1896,  Mr.  Peevey's  interest  in  political  matters  was  but  slight, 
for  his  time  was  devoted  to  the  commission  business  and  the  pleas- 
ures and  peace  of  a  home  his  hard  work  had  made,  and  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  universal  respect  and  esteem  his  life  had  so  well  de- 
served. 

Ex-Alderman  Peevey  married,  in  1868,  Elizabeth  Wall,  a  na- 
tive of  County  Cork,  Ireland,  and  they  have  had  one  daughter,  who 
with  her  mother  are  left  to  mourn  an  irreparable  loss. 


JOHN  JOSEPH   REILLY. 


John  Joseph  Reilly  was  born  in  Chicago,  January  1st,  1865. 
His  parents  were  John  and  Esther  (McCain)  Reilly,  natives  respect- 
ively of  Kildare  and  Queen's  Counties,  Ireland.  His  father  was  by 
occupation  a  locomotive  engineer,  who  having  brought  his  family 
to  the  United  States  in  1848  settled  first  in  Cincinnati  and  then 
moved  to  Chicago  in  1861,  dying  in  this  city  in  1892,  his  wife  having 
preceded  him  the  previous  year. 


354  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF    THE 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  obtained  his  early  education  in  the 
public  and  parochial  schools  of  Chicago.  His  schooling  finished 
at  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  secured  a  position  in  the  stock  yards 
as  yardmaster  and  held  the  same  for  six  years,  leaving  it  to  enter 
the  government  service,  a  position  he  had  obtained  by  public  ex- 
amination in  1889,  passing  very  creditably  and  receiving  the  ap- 
pointment of  Examiner  of  Customs. 

In  1892  Mr.  Reilly  was  one  of  a  class  of  seventy-five  men  exam- 
ined to  select  custom  examiners  for  the  World's  Fair  and  out  of 
that  number  Mr.  Reilly  passed  the  best  examination  and  received 
the  first  appointment.  Consequently  he  examined  and  appraised 
everything  sold  on  the  Midway  Plaisance  during  the  World's  Co- 
lumbian Exposition,  besides  examining  goods  in  other  parts  of  the 
Fair,  and  at  the  close  he  appraised  and  put  values  on  all  abandoned 
goods  which  were  sold  at  public  auction. 

In  the  fall  of  1894  Mr.  Reilly  was  a  candidate  for  the  Legisla- 
ture from  the  Thirteenth  Senatorial  District,  but  was  not  success- 
ful. Mr.  Reilly  was  employed  in  the  County  Treasurer's  office  for 
a  short  time  in  1895,  but  resigned  to  resume  his  old  work  in  the 
Custom  Department,  where  it  is  his  duty  to  examine  all  the  leaf 
tobacco  and  cigars  that  come  into  this  port.  He  was  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Hibernian  Rifles  until  they  were  taken  in  as  part 
of  the  National  Guard,  when  he  resigned  to  join  the  Chicago  Zou- 
aves. Later  he  became  a  member  of  the  famous  Illinois  Zouaves, 
of  which  he  is  vice-president  at  the  present  time,  and  was  one  of 
the  famous  drill  team  of  twenty-six  men  who  traveled  all  over  the 
country  winning  prizes.  It  visited  Omaha,  Kansas  City,  Washing- 
ton, Little  Rock,  New  York,  and  St.  Louis,  and  was  successful  at 
every  place,  with  the  exception  of  the  last  mentioned. 

As  yet  unmarried, -he  is  a  member  of  several  friendly  societies, 
including  the  Royal  League  and  the  National  Benevolent  League. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  355 


DENNIS   PAUL   RUSSELL,  M.  D. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Dennis  Paul  Russell,  M.  D.,  was 
born  in  Chicago,  May  18th,  1860,  his  parents  being  John  S.  and 
Margaret  (Cicela)  Russell.  His  grandfather,  Dennis  Russell,  a  na- 
tive of  County  Tipperary,  Ireland,  was  a  general  in  the  English 
service  and  served  throughout  the  Crimean  AVar.  Afterwards  tak- 
ing up  the  profession  of  civil  engineer,  he  had  come  to  America  and 
settled  in  New  York  State.  His  son,  John  S.  Russell,  the  father 
of  Dr.  Russell,  had  come  to  Chicago  in  1844  and  became  a  promi- 
nent builder  and  contractor.  He  married  Margaret  Cicela,  a  na- 
tive of  Couuaught,  Ireland,  one  of  whose  immediate  ancestors — also 
in  the  British  service — had  been  a  general  in  the  Crimean  War. 
Another  uncle,  Don  Miguel  McMahon,  who  had  gone  to  Mexico  be- 
fore the  time  of  Maximilian  and  invested  extensively  in  mines,  is 
at  the  present  time  Secretary  of  the  Navy  for  the  Mexican  gov- 
ernment. 

In  his  youth  Dr.  Russell  attended  the  public  schools  of  Chicago, 
from  which,  in  1877,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  graduated.  He 
then  entered  the  Jesuit  College  at  Georgetown,  graduating  in 
1880.  Having  taken  later  a  course  at  the  College  of  Pharmacy  in 
Chicago,  he  graduated  in  1883  and  then  entered  Rush  Medical  Col- 
lege, from  which  he  graduated  also  in  1890  and  began  the  practice 
of  the  profession  he  had  chosen. 

Dr.  Russell  was  married  December  13th,  1886,  to  Laura  L.  Cone, 
of  Chicago. 

A  member  of  all  the  leading  Irish  and  Catholic  organizations, 
Dr.  Russell,  who  holds  the  position  of  Surgeon  of  the  Clan-Na-Gael 
Guards,  takes  a  lively  interest  in  all  Irish  matters. 


356  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

lii  his  religious  views  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  belongs  to 
the  congregation  of  the  Holy  Family  Church,  while  in  politics  he 
is  a  Democrat  with  very  strong  silver  proclivities.  Broad  in  his 
views,  Dr.  Russell  has  had  the  benefit  of  considerable  foreign  travel 
and  his  earnestness  in  all  his  undertakings,  his  generous  and  kindly 
nature  has  won  for  him  the  affectionate  regard  of  a  host  of  friends. 


COLONEL  MARCUS  KAVANAGH,  JR. 


Whether  as  soldier,  prominent  citizen,  lawyer,  thorough  Amer- 
ican or  patriotic  sou  of  the  land  of  his  fathers,  it  is  difficult  to 
know  which  to  speak  of  first  where  Col.  Marcus  Kavanagh  is  con- 
cerned, for  in  each  case  he  has  gained  the  same  enviable  reputa- 
tion. He  is  a  man  born  to  lead,  the  possessor  of  a  forceful  indi- 
viduality that  absolutely  commands  respect;  with  positive  ideas 
and  a  power  of  enforcing  on  others  that  must  always  assure  him  a 
strong  place  in  auy  community,  a  man  of  most  dignified  appear- 
ance, but  never  failing  courtesy. 

The  Colonel  is  still  in  the  prime  of  early  manhood.  He  was 
born  September  3,  1859,  of  good  Irish  stock.  His  father,  Marcus 
Kavauagh,  was  a  native  of  County  Wicklow,  and  his  mother, 
Mary,  daughter  of  Martin  Hughes,  from  County  Mayo.  The 
name  Marcus  is  evidently  hereditary  in  the  family,  for  the  grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  our  sketch — a  native  of  County  Wexford — 
was  also  so  named.  His  father,  a  man  in  comfortable  circum- 
stances, came  to  this  country  in  1850  and  settled  in  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  where  Marcus  Kavanagh,  Jr.,  was  born  and  received  his 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  359 

early  education  in  its  public  schools.  He  afterwards  went  to 
Niagara  University,  where  he  graduated1  June,  1876,  and  grad- 
uated in  law  from  the  Iowa  State  University  in  1878.  He  imme- 
diately began  to  practice  law,  and  his  ability  and  ready  resource 
soon  made  for  him  considerable  mark  in  his  profession.  Every 
case  he  took  charge  of  was  conducted  conscientiously  and  most 
carefully,  and  while  he  has  a  natural  courage,  sufficient  to  provide 
him  with  resource  in  any  emergency,  yet  ample  preparation  is  be- 
stowed whenever  the  opportunity  is  accorded.  He  is  a  fine 
speaker,  has  a  most  excellent  manner,  and  that  peculiarly  effec- 
tive power  which  is  the  result  of  a  clever  understanding  of  the 
circumstances,  and  an  earnest  conviction  of  the  justice  of  the 
case. 

Mr.  Kavanagh  was  elected  city  attorney  of  Des  Moines  in  1882, 
and  re-elected  to  the  same  office  in  1884.  He  was  chosen  as  Dis- 
trict Judge  of  the  Ninth  Judicial  District  of  Iowa  in  1885,  but 
this  position  the  Hon.  John  Gibbous,  recognizing  that  such  supe- 
rior qualifications  needed  more  scope  for  action,  induced  him  to 
resign,  and  coming  to  Chicago  they  went  into  partnership,  the 
firm  being  then  known  as  Gibbons  &  Kavanagh.  When  Mr.  Gib- 
bous was  elected  judge  of  the  Circuit  bench,  Mr.  Kavanagh  found 
it  necessary  to  form  a  new  partnership,  and  his  firm  is  now  Kava- 
nagh &  O'Donuell.  He  has  made  choice  of  no  special  branch  of 
the  law,  for  he  possesses  that  mental  grasp  which  makes  it  an 
easy  matter  for  him  to  discover  the  salient  points  in  any  case,  and 
consequently  a  general  practice  is  carried  on  by  the  firm. 

Among  his  professional  brethren  Marcus  Kavanagh  is  held  in 
the  very  highest  regard,  for  his  acquirements  command  their  re- 
spect and  confidence,  while  his  courteous  manner  under  all  cir- 
cumstances, and  yet  entirely  devoid  of  ostentation,  has  given  him 
a  wide  range  of  warm  personal  friends,  who  hold  him  in  the  high- 
est esteem  for  his  many  manly  qualities. 


360  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OP    THE 

Some  reference  is  required  to  Col.  Kavanagh's  record  as  a  sol- 
dier. Since  his  earliest  years,  military  matters  have  always  been 
to  him  of  absorbing  interest.  At  Niagara  University  he  was  un- 
der military  instruction  for  five  years.  And  while  studying  law  in 
Iowa  City  he  was  under  Captain  Chester  of  West  Point,  a  soldier 
Avho  was  unusually  competent  to  instruct  in  the  art  of  war. 

Elected  Major  of  the  Third  Eegiment,  Iowa  National  Guard,  in 
Des  Moines,  and  afterwards  its  Lieutenant  Colonel,  so  soon  as  he 
arrived  in  Chicago  he  was  elected  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  Sev- 
enth Infantry.  Through  all  the  trying  riot  times  of  the  summer 
of  1894,  the  Seventh  Kegiment  did  noble  service,  and  the  police 
being  engaged  in  the  suburbs,  it  was  for  a  couple  of  weeks  the  only 
force  for  the  protection  of  the  city. 

Owing  to  the  heavy  pressure  of  his  professional  duties,  and 
also  to  the  hard  feeling  in  the  regiment,  rendering  harmony  among 
the  officers  an  impossibility,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Kavanagh  re- 
signed his  command  in  the  fall  of  1895.  On  April  12th,  1896,  how- 
ever, he  was  unanimously  elected  to  the  position  of  Colonel  of  the 
regiment,  which  had  been  lately  vacated  by  Colonel  F.  T.  Colby, 
and  his  installation  was  made  an  occasion  of  such  hearty  approval 
as  well  testified  to  his  popularity  in  the  Seventh  Eegiment. 

In  religion  Mr.  Kavanagh  is  a  Catholic;  in  politics  he  belongs 
to  the  Republican  party.  As  an  Irishman,  a  pride  to  the  land  of 
hi.s  father,  and  an  honor  to  the  country  to  which  he  owes  his  birth 
and  which  his  father  adopted,  he  is  in  constant  request  as  a  speaker 
at  the  great  national  and  patriotic  gatherings. 

Colonel  Kavanagh  is  a  man  of  dignified  and  commanding  ap- 
pearance, his  countenance  is  frank  and  pleasing — he  looks  as  he 
is — every  inch  a  soldier.  His  career  has  been  an  active  and  an 
honorable  one,  and  he  has  proven  himself  one  of  those  men  who 
add  dignity  to  and  elevate  any  enterprise  with  which  they  are 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  361 

connected.  A  conscientious  and  thorough  lawyer,  he  is  also  an 
advocate,  logical,  forcible  and  convincing;  while  as  a  soldier  he 
has  demonstrated  the  possession  of  those  rare  qualities  that  make 
the  born  leader;  the  ability  first  to  obey,  and  then  to  govern. 


JAMES  J.   OTOOLE. 

James  J.  O'Toole  was  born  October  23d,  1860,  in  Greenbush, 
N.  Y.  He  was  the  son  of  Patrick  O'Toole,  a  native  of  Kings  County, 
Ireland,  and  a  civil  engineer  by  profession,  who  had  come  to  this 
country  in  1858,  and  of  Bridget  O'Toole,  who  was  a  native  of  the 
same  county.  They  came  to  Chicago  in  1860,  where  the  father  died 
in  1880,  and  the  mother  in  1864. 

James  O'Toole  received  his  education  in  the  public  and  paro- 
chial schools  of  Chicago,  leaving  at  the  age  of  thirteen  to  help 
his  parents  in  the  support  of  the  family.  His  first  work  was  as 
a  butcher  in  one  of  the  slaughter  houses  of  the  Chicago  Union 
Stock  Yards,  but  his  industrious  habits  soon  obtained  recognition 
and  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  foreman,  and  later  to  that 
of  shipping  clerk. 

He  gave  up  work  in  the  packing  house  in  1889,  upon  receiving 
the  nomination  for  the  Legislature  from  the  Second  Senatorial  Dis- 
trict. He  was  elected,  and  held  the  office  until  1891,  when  he  vas 
appointed  Chief  Deputy  Clerk  of  the  Appellate  Court,  First  District, 
Illinois.  While  holding  this  office  he  attended  the  Chicago  Evening 
College  of  Law,  from  which  he  graduated  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  July,  1893.  Appointed  to  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace, 


362  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

for  the  town  of  Lake,  in  August,  1893,  he  was  recommended  for  re- 
appointment  by  the  Judges  of  the  Circuit,  Superior  and  County 
Courts  of  Cook  County,  in  July,  1895,  but  was  rejected  by  Governor 
Altgeld.  Justice  O'Toole  at  once  claimed  this  action  was  irregular, 
ami  not  in  accordance  with  law,  and  consequently  refused  to  vacate 
the  office.  From  the  office  of  the  State's  Attorney  of  Cook  County, 
quo  warranto  proceedings  were  instituted  to  oust  him,  and  the  case 
came  up  before  Hon.  John  Gibbons,  of  the  Circuit  Court,  who,  by 
his  decision  sustained  Mr.  O'Toole's  position,  as  did  also  the  Appel- 
late and  Supreme  Courts  of  the  State.  In  the  trial  he  was  himself 
of  great  assistance  to  the  attorneys. 

The  Governor  of  Illinois  had  refused  in  the  same  irregular  man- 
ner to  accept  several  other  Chicago  Justices,  who  were  appointed 
at  the  same  time  as  Justice  O'Toole,  and  they  had  vacated  the  of- 
fices, but  as  soon  as  Judge  O'Toole's  position  was  sustained  by  the 
courts,  these  at  once  resumed  their  various  positions. 

Judge  O'Toole  was  a  member  of  the  School  Board,  District  No. 
(>,  Town  of  Lake,  111.,  from  May  2d,  1887,  to  January,  1889.  Of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men, and  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters,  he  is  an  old  time 
member.  In  religion,  he  is  a  Catholic;  in  politics  a  Democrat,  and 
a  firm  believer  in  the  single  tax,  the  inheritance  tax,  and  the  in- 
come tax,  as  well  as  that  free  trade  and  free  silver  is  for  the  best 
interest  of  our  country. 

He  was  married,  February  6th,  1884,  to  Katie  Kelly,  of  Chicago, 
and  they  have  had  four  children — Henry,  James,  Helen,  and  Syl- 
vester. 

Judge  O'Toole  is  a  man  of  slight  build,  fair  complexion,  and 
medium  height.  That  he  possesses  great  ability,  the  position  he  has 
achieved  conclusively  shows,  and  no  one  can  gainsay  his  character 
for  just  decisions  and  for  fair  and  honest  treatment  to  all  men. 
Socially,  he  is  a  very  agreeable  companion,  for  his  personality  is  a 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  363 

most  pleasing  one.  He  is  a  man  of  large  information  on  all  the 
leading  subjects  of  the  day,  and  never  tires  of  helping  and  assisting 
others  less  fortunate  than  himself.  There  are,  indeed,  few  men 
in  this  vast  city  who  possess  more  or  truer  friends  than  the  Hon. 
James  J.  O'Toole. 


JOSEPH   PATRICK   RAFFERTY. 


A  young  American  Irish  lawyer,  who  already  stands  well  and 
is  daily  progressing  among  his  fellows,  is  the  subject  of  the  present 
sketch,  Joseph  Patrick  Rafferty,  who  was  born  in  Chicago,  June 
llth,  1866.  His  father,  John  Rafferty,  was  of  gallant  Tipperary 
stock,  and  had  come  to  the  United  States  some  time  in  the  forties. 
He  settled  first  at  Seymour,  Conn.,  and  about  1854  moved  to  Chi- 
cago, where  for  some  years  he  was  employed  as  foreman  of  Dake's 
Bakery,  lie  married  a  lady  of  an  old  Limerick  family  and  died  in 
1879. 

In  his  youth  Joseph  Patrick  Rafferty  attended  the  school  of  the 
Holy  Family  parish,  and  later  went  to  St.  Viateur's  College,  grad- 
uating from  the  latter  in  1885.  At  once  he  entered  the  Union  Col- 
lege of  Law,  graduating  there  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  and  re- 
cehing  his  license  to  practice  in  1887,  opened  an  office  and  set  to 
work. 

His  ability  as  a  lawyer  soon  brought  him  a  very  good  practice, 
but  regardless  of  the  fact  that  his  growing  business  made  him  a 
very  busy  man,  ample  time  was  found  by  him  to  assist  in  doing 
good  for  his  fellowmen.  In  1890  he  was  prominent  in  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Continental  League  and  the  American  Constitutional 


364  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

Kights  League,  both  of  which  are  non-sectional  and  non-political. 
Of  the  Archdiocesan  Union  of  Catholic  Young  Men's  Societies  he 
has  held  the  office  of  president.  He  was  president  of  the  Damen 
Club,  named  after  the  noble  Jesuit  missionary;  for  two  years  was 
chief  ranger  of  St.  Kose  of  Lima  Court  of  the  Catholic  Order  of  For- 
esters; for  three  years  was  one  of  the  auditors  of  the  High  Court, 
and  is  prominently  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  office  of  High 
Chief  Banger.  He  was  Prefect  of  the  Young  Men's  Sodality  of  Holy 
Family  Jesuit  parish. 

Mr.  Eafferty  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a  member  of  the  con- 
gregation of  the  Jesuit  Church  of  the  Holy  Family. 

In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  has  made  himself  so 
prominent  in  his  district  that  the  nomination  for  the  Legislature 
from  his  district — the  Fifteenth — could  be  obtained  by  him  at 
any  time  desired. 


DR.  THOMAS   FRANCIS  O'MALLEY. 


Dr.  Thomas  Francis  O'Malley  was  born  in  Limerick,  Ireland, 
on  May  15th,  1860,  and  is  of  a  family  which  is  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  respected  in  the  south  of  Ireland.  His  father,  a  man  of 
splendid  physique,  was  noted  both  for  his  strict  honesty  and  his 
ardent  patriotism.  He  died  a  few  years  since,  but  the  mother 
of  our  subject,  still  hale  and  hearty,  resides  in  the  old  homestead. 

With  that,  religious  devotion  characteristic  of  so  many  Irish 
parents,  Thomas  Francis  O'Malley  was  selected  at  an  early  age  as 
a  candidate  for  the  priesthood  and  was  sent  to  the  Diocesan  Sem- 
inary, Limerick,  where  he  received  a  thorough  classical  education. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  3C5 

He  then  went  to  St.  Patrick's  College,  Thurles,  where  his  philo- 
sophical studies  were  pursued,  after  which  he  encountered  the 
ordeal  immortalized  by  William  Carleton  of  "Going  to  Maynooth." 
Young  O'Malley,  like  Carleton  in  former  days,  came  to  the  con- 
clusion that  the  study  of  theology  and  the  desires  of  his  parents 
were  not  in  exact  consonance  with  his  own  ideas,  and  he  left  May- 
nooth, having  in  mind,  as  he  acknowledges,  the  words  of  Alex- 
ander Pope: 

"Know  well  thyself,  presume  not  God  to  scan, 

The  proper  study  of  mankind  is  man." 

Forthwith  he  came  to  America,  arriving  here  in  1883,  and  en- 
tered Kush  Medical  College,  where,  after  a  three  years'  course,  he 
graduated  with  high  honors.  At  once  he  started  into  the  practice 
of  medicine,  and  in  a  short  time  gained  the  reputation  of  a  suc- 
cessful practitioner,  and  was  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  large  and 
lucrative  practice.  A  close  reader  and  an  ardent  student,  he 
always  keeps  himself  well  abreast  of  the  times.  To  his  thorough 
conversance  with  all  new  theories  and  discoveries  connected  with 
the  science  of  medicine  can  be  attributed  in  a  great  extent  the  suc- 
cess he  has  achieved  in  his  chosen  profession. 

Dr.  O'Malley  is  prominently  connected  with  many  social  and 
benevolent  societies,  in  all  of  which  he  is  exceedingly  popular.  lie 
at  present  holds  the  position  of  high  medical  examiner  of  the  Cath- 
olic Order  of  Foresters,  enjoying  the  unprecedented  honor  of  having 
been  re-elected  four  times  in  succession  at  the  National  Conven- 
tions. He  is  a  member,  among  others,  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen;  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters;  as  well 
as  several  medical  societies.  For  several  years  also,  he  was  a  con- 
spicuous figure  as  Surgeon  Major  of  the  Old  Hibernian  Rifles,  now 
the  Seventh  Regiment. 

A  great  lover  of  natural  scenery,  he  has  traveled  extensively 
through  this  country,  and  two  years  ago  revisited  the  "Old  Sod" 


366  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OP    THE 

and  made  a  tour  on  the  continent.  He  is  intensely  interested  in 
Irish  affairs  and  is  ever  ready  to  take  a  hand  in  any  movement  for 
the  betterment  of  his  down-trodden  fellow  countrymen. 

Like  most  men  of  his  profession,  he  takes  very  little  active  part 
in  American  politics,  though  he  is  always  ready  to  help  a  friend, 
lie  has  never  sought  political  preferment,  though  his  immense  pop- 
ularity and  strict  integrity  would  almost  insure  him  any  office  he 
would  have  a  right  to  seek.  Kindly  in  disposition,  courteous  in 
manner,  in  appearance  he  is  the  very  personification  of  vigorous 
manhood.  As  yet  unmarried,  though  enjoying  a  large  practice, 
he  stands  forth  prominent  among  his  fellow  countrymen  in  Chi- 
cago, a  man  of  noble  parts  and  with  a  past  record  giving  eminent 
promise  of  great  future  achievement 


JOHN   F.  SCANLAN. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Hon.  John  F.  Scanlan,  is  the  young- 
est of  the  four  Scanlau  Brothers,  Edward,  Michael,  Mortimer  and 
John,  so  well  known  in  Irish  and  business  circles  of  Chicago,  and 
also  the  youngest  son  of  Mortimer  and  Catherine  (Roche)  Scan- 
Ian  of  Castlemahon,  County  Limerick,  Ireland.  He  was  born  in 
1840.  His  father  was  a  farmer  and  came  of  a  family  that  has 
lived  in  the  south  of  Ireland  for  centuries.  His  mother  belonged 
to  the  La  Roche  family,  who  came  to  Ireland  from  the  south  of 
France  some  four  hundred  years  ago.  The  Scanlan  family  ar- 
rived in  Boston  the  winter  of  1848,  where  they  spent  two  and  a 
half  years.  In  1851  they  moved  to  Chicago.  His  father  died  in 
Ireland  and  his  mother  died  in  Chicago  in  1858. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  369 

In  1851  the  subject  of  our  sketch  entered  the  school  connected 
with  the  College  of  St.  Mary's  of  the  Lake,  corner  of  Huron  and 
State  Streets,  then  a  suburban  district.  In  1856  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  the  trade  of  ornamental  wood  carving,  and  in  1859  and 
1860  he  decorated  some  of  the  prominent  buildings  in  New  Or- 
leans and  Memphis,  leaving  the  latter  city  in  time  to  avoid  the 
boundary  pickets  of  the  Confederacy.  Arriving  in  Chicago,  he 
joined  his  brothers  in  the  wholesale  confectionery  business,  one 
of  the  largest  of  the  kind  in  Chicago,  then  being  conducted  by 
them. 

Believing  that  the  performance  of  one's  duty  to  country  is 
obedience  to  God,  when  the  spirit  of  revolution  swept  over  the 
Irish  race,  at  home  and  abroad,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  fifties,  the 
Scanlan  Brothers  threw  themselves,  their  fortune,  influence  and 
personal  energies  into  the  Fenian  Brotherhood,  then  the  hope  of 
Ireland,  and  for  ten  years  few  questions  of  interest  to  the  Irish 
people  were  considered  without  they  being  consulted.  The  first 
convention  of  that  organization  was  held  in  Chicago,  and  it  was 
here  the  historic  Irish  National  Fair  was  held,  in  the  old  Brian 
Hall,  now  the  Grand  Opera  House. 

In  1862,  John  F.  Scanlan  entered  the  Union  Army  and  was 
commissioned  captain  of  Company  B,  Sixty-seventh  Illinois  Volun- 
teers. His  services  over,  he  returned  to  the  confectionery  busi- 
ness. In  1872  he  was  elected  as  a  member  of  the  Twenty-eighth 
General  Assembly  of  the  Illinois  Legislature.  In  1868,  his  studies 
led  him  into  the  subject  of  Political  Economy,  and  in  the  course 
of  his  investigation  he  discovered,  as  he  thinks,  the  cause  of  Ire- 
land's troubles.  In  the  preface  to  his  work  published  on  that  sub- 
ject, "Why  Ireland  Is  Poor,"  he  tells  of  his  conversion  to  protec- 
tion politics. 

"Why  are  Irish  national  efforts  failures?"  The  Irish  language 
was  spoken  during  the  revolution  as  much  as  the  English;  who 

19 


370  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF    THE 

knows  it?  The  '48  movement  and  Fenianisui  gave  great  souls 
to  humanity,  but  only  the  incense  of  their  suffering  remains.  The 
army,  law  and  pulpit  in  almost  every  nation  are  adorned  by  Irish 
bravery,  eloquence  and  devotion,  yet  Irish  efforts  are  not  what  the 
world  calls  success.  What  is  the  cause?  No  race  is  accorded 
more  praise  for  their  heroism  in  war,  in  vale  or  hilltop;  where 
death  reaps  its  greatest  harvest,  where  dash,  daring  and  bravery- 
are  wanted  most,  few  fall  nearer  to  the  cannon's  mouth  than  the 
Irish  soldier.  When  principle  demands  painful  sacrifices,  Ire- 
land's sons  have  given  evidence  that  none  are  more  willing  to  live, 
and,  if  needs  be,  to  die  for  it;  yet,  with  all  these  facts,  the  results 
of  our  national  aspirations  have  been  failures.  This  is  charged  to 
racial  defects.  Always  loath  to  believe  that  we  had  failed  from 
race  defects,  I  looked  through  our  limited  libraries  and  found  a 
record  of  Kings,  Wars,  Chiefs  and  Religion.  Had  we  a  national, 
political  or  domestic  economy?  I  could  find  but  little  trace  of  it. 
About  this  time,  an  American  friend  handed  me  the  work  of 
that  brilliant  Irish-American,  Henry  C.  Carey,  "The  Slave  Trade, 
Foreign  and  Domestic,"  and  requested  me  to  read  it,  particularly 
the  chapter  on  Ireland.  I  did  so;  it  opened  up  a  new  world  to  me. 
Following  up  that  train  of  thought  and  study,  investigating  tra- 
ditions, social  conditions,  personal  experiences,  and  every  avenue 
of  Ireland's  checkered  career,  I  was  forced  to  the  conclusion  that 
our  failures  came  from  national  poverty,  which  destroyed  the 
power  of  association,  and  national  poverty  came  through  the 
destruction  of  Irish  industries,  and  our  industries  were  destroyed, 
not  by  the  force  of  the  English  Army,  but  by  English  Free  Trade, 
through  the  Act  of  Union;  in  other  words,  force  having  failed  to 
crush  the  national  spirit,  the  school  where  the  head  and  hand  were 
instructed  and  the  stomach  filledi— the  Nation's  industries— were 
destroyed.  In  the  destruction  of  Ireland's  industries,  the  people 
lost  the  power  of  association  to  a  large  extent  among  themselves, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  371 

aud  almost  entirely  with  the  outside  world.  This  was  a  gigantic 
step  downwards.  They  lost  the  school  of  mechanism — the  fac- 
tory— and  then  passed  away  from  the  people  the  aid  and  use  of 
modern  invention,  another  step.  They  lost  their  commerce,  which 
destroyed  the  school  of  diplomacy,  hence,  dwarfed  national  efforts, 
another  step.  Their  government  was  transferred  to  England, 
then  the  school  where  Irish  statesmen  were  educated  was  closed, 
another  step.  Then  the  home  market  was  lost.  All  the  above 
were  but  incidents  in  capturing  the  citadel — the  home  market  that 
England  wanted — then  diversified  labor  and  the  power  of  com- 
mercial exchange  passed  beyond' the  Nation's  control,  followed  by 
the  slavery  of  national  poverty.  Then  it  was  that  "a  darkness 
that  could  be  felt"  fell  on  the  land  and  has  since  paralyzed  the  peo- 
ple's efforts." 

To  be  convinced  meant  action.  Mr.  Scanlan,  having  discov- 
ered the  cause  of  national  poverty,  at  once  threw  himself  into  the 
battle  of  protective  tariff  economy.  Satisfied  that  free  trade  in 
this  country  would  be  as  destructive  here  as  it  was  in  Ireland,  and 
believing  that  the  Irish-American  people  could  do  no  greater  ser- 
vice to  America  than  to  stamp  out  free  trade,  he  became  a  promi- 
nent speaker  and  a  well-known  figure  in  every  national  political 
battle  for  the  past  twenty-five  years.  He  is  regarded  as  an 
authority  on  that  subject,  and  as  one  of  the  most  eloquent  speakers 
in  the  country. 

The  St.  Louis  Globe  Democrat,  reporting  one  of  his  speeches, 
said : 

"In  the  Illinois  campaign  to  date  the  speech  of  John  F.  Scan- 
Ian,  author  of  'Why  Ireland  Is  Poor,'  stands  first  in  effectiveness. 
It  was  delivered  at  Mattoon  a  couple  of  nights  ago.  For  two  hours 
and  a  half  Mr.  Scanlan  held  his  audience,  which  filled  the  Opera 
House  to  the  doors,  spellbound.  He  is  the  Wendell  Phillips  of 
to-day.  He  has  the  same  easy,  quiet  manner,  and  the  same  mar- 


372  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OP   THE 

velous  mental  dexterity  in  arraying  facts  until  bis  conclusions  are 
forced  irresistibly  upon  his  hearers.  His  whole  speech  was  de- 
voted to  the  tariff  issue.  One  of  the  most  entertaining  passages, 
which  made  eyes  glisten  and  throats  choke  up,  was  that  about 
Ireland's  unhappy  experience  with  free  trade." 

Mr.  Scanlan  has  written  two  works  on  this  subject,  "Why  Ire- 
land Is  Poor"  and  "Light  on  the  Tariff." 

In  1883,  Mr.  Scanlan  seeing  the  need  for  an  insurance  benevo- 
lent association,  especially  adapted  to  the  Catholic  people,  estab- 
lished "The  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,"  and  for  six  years  gave 
that  organization  almost  his  entire  time,  planting,  welding  and 
uniting  its  various  parts  on  a  broad  business  basis,  until  the  or- 
ganization has  now  extended  its  branches  across  the  northern 
part  of  this  continent,  from  Quebec  to  the  Pacific  coast,  counting 
among  its  fifty  thousand  members  some  of  the  best  citizens  of  all 
nationalities  in  the  country.  At  the  Fifth  Annual  Convention,  at 
the  close  of  his  official  duties,  he  was  presented  with  a  beautifully 
engrossed  set  of  resolutions,  on  behalf  of  the  organization,  thank- 
ing him  for  his  grand  work  and  proclaiming  him  "Father  of  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters," 

In  1862,  Mr.  Scanlan  was  married  to  Teresa  M.  Lawler,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Lawler  and  sister  of  the  well-known  Congressman, 
the  late  Frank  Lawler.  Mr.  Scanlan  has  four  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters. 

Under  the  old  firm  name  of  Scanlan  Bros.,  he  conducts  a  real 
estate  business  in  this  city,  and  while  that  is  his  business,  he  also 
is  a  constant  contributor  to  the  press;  he  delivers  lectures  on 
special  subjects,  particularly  is  he  in  demand  at  patriotic  demon- 
strations and  Grand  Army  celebrations. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  373 


ANDREW  J.  RYAN. 


Andrew  J.  Ryan  was  born  in  Chicago,  December  29th,  1869,  and 
is  the  sou  of  William  F.  and  Ellen  (Farrell)  Ryan.  His  father  was 
a  native  of  Tipperary,  Ireland,  who  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1858,  settling  at  Scheneetady,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  in  the  railroad 
business  for  a  few  years.  He  later  remdved  to  Chicago,  where  he 
died  in  1874,  but  his  wife — the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
--still  lives  in  this  city. 

Andrew  J.  Eyan  attended  the  public  schools  of  Chicago  until 
he  was  nine  years  of  age,  when  his  ambition  to  be  doing  something 
for  himself,  and  that  feeling  that  he  ought  to  assist  in  the  siipport 
of  the  family,  his  father  being  dead,  determined  him  to  seek  em- 
ployment. His  first  work  was  with  the  firm  of  Field,  Leiter  &  Co., 
in  their  retail  store  in  the  capacity  of  errand  boy.  After  two  and 
a  half  years  he  gave  this  up  to  go  into  the  employ  of  the  Farmers' 
Review,  a  paper  publish ed  in  Chicago,  and  with  this  journal  he 
remained  two  years  as  errand  boy  and  then  resigned  to  accept  a 
position  with  Lyon  &  Healy  as  department  cashier.  From  time  to 
time  he  was  promoted  until  when  he  left  this  firm  in  1893,  after  a 
term  of  sen-ice  of  ten  years,  he  was  in  the  very  responsible  position 
of  credit  man.  During  the  time  he  was  witli  Lyon  &  Healy  he  at- 
tended the  Night  Law  College  of  the  Lake  Forest  University,  from 
which  he  graduated  June  1st,  1891.  In  1893  he  determined  he 
would  be  his  own  master,  and  opening  up  a  law  office  began  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  Eminent  success  has  crowned  his  efforts, 
and  having  held  the  position  of  Attorney  for  the  Town  of  West 
Chicago,  Mr.  Ryan  now  represents  legally  several  large  corpora- 


374  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

lions  ami  has  also  a  very  lucrative  general  practice,  having  been 
connected  with  some  most  important  suits. 

Mr.  Ryan  was  married,  August  26th,  1896,  to  Miss  Nellie  T. 
Cahill,  the  well  known  contralto  singer  of  St.  Patrick's  Church. 

For  five  years  he  was  State  Secretary  of  the  Catholic  Benevolent 
Legion,  and  has  also  assisted  to  organize  and  place  on  a  solid  foun- 
dation several  other  benevolent  enterprises.  In  religion  he  is  a 
Roman  Catholic  and  a  member  of  the  congregation  of  the  Church 
of  Our  Lady  of  Sorrows,  while  in  politics  he  is  a  Democrat 

Mr.  Ryan,  though  yet  a  young  man,  has  shown  such  ability  and 
such  ready  grasp  of  affairs  that  his  friends,  whose  name  is  legion, 
confidently  expect  to  see  him  in  the  near  future  numbered  among 
the  brightest  ornaments  of  the  legal  profession  in  Chicago. 


CAPTAIN   PATRICK   LINANE  TOUHY. 


Captain  Patrick  Linane  Touhy,  one  of  the  best  known  and  most 
popular  Irishmen  in  Chicago,  was  born  in  County  Clare,  Ireland. 
His  father  was  a  man  of  considerable  prominence  in  the  section  of 
the  country  in  which  he  lived,  while  his  mother  came  from  the 
Leonards,  a  noted  family  of  high  standing,  who  made  the  strongest 
objections  to  her  marrying  Leonard  Touhy,  not  considering  his. 
position  justified  the  connection. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  school  in  his  native  town 
until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age,  when  perceiving  that  as  a  younger 
son  he  had  no  hopes  of  obtaining  any  sufficiency  from  his  father's 
fortune,  and  determined  to  seek  his  own  fortune  he  sailed  for  Amer- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  375 

ica.  Landing  in  New  York  employment  was  secured  in  a  carpet 
house,  where  he  remained  some  years,  until  hearing  of  the  oppor- 
tunities offered  by  the  little  giant  city  of  the  West — Chicago — he  de- 
termined there  to  cast  his  lot,  and  in  association  with  his  brother, 
started  in  the  wine  and  spirit  business. 

Shortly  afterwards  he  married  Catherine  Rogers,  of  Rogers 
Park,  and  at  once  retiring  from  the  business,  took  up  his  residence 
in  that  suburb.  For  the  purpose  of  subdividing  and  selling  the 
large  amount  of  land  his  wife  had  inherited  from  her  father,  Mr. 
Philip  McGregor  Rogers,  the  first  settler  of  that  section,  Mr. 
Touhy,  in  1871,  formed  a  stock  company.  This  undertaking  met 
with  remarkable  success,  and  one  of  the  finest  and  most  prosperous 
additions  to  Chicago  has  been  by  him  built  up. 

Mr.  Touhy  has  always  and  unalterably  been  Democratic  in  his 
political  views;  he  is  a  great  admirer  of  the  personality  and  the 
abilities  of  William  Jennings  Bryan,  the  late  Presidential  candi- 
date. Active  in  politics,  he  has  filled  a  number  of  village  offices, 
and  in  social  as  well  as  political  circles  has  been  very  prominent. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war,  when  troops  were  called 
for  by  his  adopted  country,  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  respond.  He 
succeeded  in  making  himself  one  of  the  most  valued  members  of 
that  brave  Irish  regiment,  the  Sixty-ninth  New.  York  Volunteers, 
and  from  the  ranks  rose  step  by  step  until  on  his  retirement  he 
held  the  position  of  Captain. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Touhy  have  had  ten  children,  of  whom  six  are 
living.  The  death  of  the  eldest,  Edmond  Rogers  Touhy,  just  as  he 
was  making  a  name  for  himself,  was  a  terrible  blow  to  his  parents. 
He  was  a  very  promising  young  man  and  a  graduate  of  the  North- 
western University  and  the  Union  College  of  Law,  having  for  some 
time  studied  law  in  the  office  of  W.  J.  Hynes,  lie  had  entered  into 
a  partnership  with  John  S.  Hunter,  under  the  firm  name  of  Hunter 
&  Touhy.  His  progress  in  the  profession  was  rapid  in  the  extreme, 


376  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

and  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  no  case  entrusted  to  him  had  been 
lost.  Mabel  Rogers  Touhy,  the  oldest  daughter,  is  a  bright  and 
clever  young  lady  who  has  just  finished  her  education  at  the  Lo- 
retta  Academy,  at  East  St  Louis,  where  she  has  developed  great 
ability  as  an  artist,  Stephen  Kogers  Touhy,  a  graduate  of  the 
Evanston  High  School,  seems  predestined  to  be  the  business  repre- 
sentative of  the  family. 

Captain  Patrick  L.  Touhy  is  a  splendid  specimen  of  the  large- 
hearted,  generous-souled  Irishman,  his  hand  and  his  purse  ever 
ready  to  respond  to  any  just  charitable  call.  His  circle  of  friends 
is  a  large  one,  and  the  distinguishing  characteristic  of  his  nature- 
genial  hospitality — finds  generous  outcome  in  the  frequent  gather- 
ings at  his  very  charming  home. 


EDMUND   F.  RYAN. 


A  passionate  craving  for  liberty,  an  eternal  hatred  of  oppres- 
sion, and  a  never  dying  scorn  for  the  oppressors,  have  been  the 
chief  causes  tending  towards  Ireland's  rich  contributions  of  phys- 
ical power  and  mental  activity  to  the  mercantile  and  the  profes- 
sional classes  of  the  great  West.  Our  city,  perhaps,  possesses  more 
than  its  proper  share  of  this,  the  best  element  of  the  old  land  across 
the  seas.  It  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  better  example  of  the  type 
mentioned  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Edmund  F.  Ryan. 

He  is  a  young  man,  but  his  career  is  not  wanting  in  strange 
scenes  and  moving  incidents.  He  was  born  in  1862  in  the  County 
of  Limerick  so  beautiful.  His  father,  Thomas  Ryan,  and  his 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  379 

mother,  formerly  Eliza  Frewen  Ryan,  a  member  of  one  of  the  most 
respected  and  influential  families  in  the  south  of  Ireland,  spent  all 
their  lives  in  the  County  of  Limerick. 

He  received  his  early  education  in  the  public  school  of  Oola, 
and  demonstrated  his  capacity  and  desire  for  instruction  by  ad- 
vancing in  one  year  from  the  lowest  to  the  most  advanced  class, 
being  pronounced  the  most  promising  pupil  who  had  ever  attended 
the  school.  The  study  of  the  classics  was  with  him  a  most  absorb- 
ing one,  and  here  he  had  the  benefit  of  early  training  from  Profes- 
sor Weir. 

His  schooling  over,  the  bright  young  Irishman,  nurtured  on 
patriotism  and  fired  with  enthusiastic  love  for  his  suffering  coun- 
try, at  once  interested  himself  in  the  Parnell  Movement,  which  was 
at  that  time  exercising  every  active  Irishman's  mind.  For  six  years 
he  held  the  position  of  Secretary  of  Pallast-Green  Branch  of  the 
Irish  National  League.  Upon  several  occasions  his  political  affilia- 
tions and  known  nationalistic  views  brought  him  into  trouble,  and 
he  was  subjected  to  prosecution.  Able  counsel  proffered  him  every 
assistance,  but  he  absolutely  refused  to  burden  it  with  what  he 
chose  to  consider  his  personal  affairs.  He  therefore  fought  his  own 
cases,  and,  in  each,  victory  crowned  his  efforts. 

Continual  prosecution  not  merely  embitters  life,  it  renders  it 
wholly  uiisupportable.  Young  Ryan  therefore  sought  new  condi- 
tions and  a  freer  portion  of  that  gift  of  God  to  all  men — air  to 
breathe.  He  came  to  Chicago  in  October,  1887,  and  three  months 
later  found  employment  in  the  assessor's  department  of  the  water 
office  of  the  city.  Here  he  remained  for  two  years,  studying  law 
in  his  leisure  hours.  He  joined  the  Chicago  College  of  Law,  gradu- 
ated in  1890,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  received  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Laws  from  Lake  Forest  University,  and  then  com- 
menced to  practice. 

With  a  decided  preference  to  keep  the  whole  credit  for  his  good 


380  BIOGRAPHICAL,   HISTORY   OP    TtfE 

legal  services,  rather  than  to  work  in  connection  with  another 
firm  or  to  accept  a  partner,  he  removed  to  the  Hartford  Building, 
in  1896,  where  he  transacts  all  branches  of  his  chosen  profession. 
An  able  speaker,  a  sound  reasoner,  and  at  all  times  acquainting 
himself  with  every  detail  of  his  cases,  he  is  sure  of  a  brilliant  posi- 
tion among  the  lawyers  of  the  West. 

He  has  never  sought  any  prominence  in  political  circles.  A 
Democrat  in  local  politics,  so  far  as  national  affairs  are  concerned 
he  is  a  strong  protectionist. 

Still  a  bachelor,  Mr.  Ryan  finds  time  in  addition  to  his  profes- 
sional labors  to  interest  himself  in  a  number  of  mechanical  projects, 
among  which  may  be  mentioned  an  automatic  telephone  register; 
and  he  is  also  a  large  stockholder  in  a  charter  for  a  number  of  pat- 
ents connected  with  mining  machinery,  from  which  excellent  re- 
turns are  anticipated. 


JAMES  ANTHONY   PRINTY,  M.  D. 


James  Anthony  Printy  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  January 
7th,  1856.  His  father,  Edward  Printy,  who  had  been  a  prominent 
farmer  of  Westport,  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  and  had  married  Cath-. 
erine  Walsh,  came  to  the  United  States  from  Ireland  about  the 
year  1851,  settling  near  Cincinnati.  Here  they  lived  for  fifteen 
years  and  then  moved  to  Imogene,  Iowa,  where,  having  raised  a 
family  of  eight  sons  and  a  daughter,  they  still  remain,  honored  and 
respected  by  the  whole  community. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  public  schools  of  Cin- 
cinnati, and  later  the  Malvern,  Iowa,  Academy,  and  the  Taber, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  381 

| 

Iowa,  College;  finally  graduating  at  the  Iowa  State  University  in 
1882.  Immediately  afterwards  Dr.  Printy  located  at  Imogene  and 
took  up  the  practice  of  his  profession  for  four  years,  but  being  of  the 
opinion  that  if  he  would  attain  the  position  in  his  profession  to 
which  he  aspired,  he  should  attend  a  post  graduate  course,  he  went 
to  New  York  and  there  for  one  year  studied  surgery  and  particu- 
larly the  diseases  of  women  at  the  New  York  hospitals  and  Post 
Graduate  school.  He  then  returned  to  Imogene,  and  practiced 
there  for  one  year,  when  returning  to  New  York  he  was  married 
November,  1888,  to  Miss  Allie  Weir,  and  at  once  returned  west, 
having  definitely  decided  to  permanently  locate  in  Chicago. 

Here  his  success  has  been  rapid,  for  his  special  skill  and  high 
professional  qualities  quickly  made  themselves  apparent,  and  he 
was  called  upon  to  fill  many  important  positions.  In  1890  he  was 
elected  on  the  medical  staff  of  Cook  County  Hospital;  in  1894  he 
was  elected  dean  and  professor  of  surgical  diseases  of  women  of 
the  National  Medical  College  of  Chicago.  This  latter  position  he 
held  for  five  years,  resigning  in  the  spring  of  1896,  as  he  was  un- 
able to  devote  the  necessary  time  from  his  large  and  rapidly  in- 
creasing practice. 

The  Doctor  is  in  his  religious  views  a  Roman  Catholic  and  be- 
longs to  the  congregation  of  Mount  Carmel  Church.  In  politics  he 
is  a  Democrat  and  has  full  faith  in  the  good  outcome  of  the  free 
silver  movement  under  the  leadership  of  Mr.  Bryan. 

Dr.  Printy  is  extremely  fond  of  old  and  rare  books  and  pos- 
sesses one  of  the  most  valuable  collections  in  this  city.  In  Irish 
books  his  library,  is  particularly  rich,  and  there  are  few  superior 
in  the  country,  for  in  addition  to  the  almost  complete  library  left 
by  the  late  Dr.  Cronin  he  has  recently  purchased  part  of  the  fine 
collection  of  the  late  Dr.  Clark.  He  possesses  also  a  splendid  col- 
lection of  pictures  and  to  which  he  is  constantly  adding.  For  fine 
horses  the  Doctor  has  also  great  inclination,  gratified  by  him  to  the 


382  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF   THE 

exteiit  of  several  splendid  specimens,  one  fine  animal  of  Arabian 
descent,  a  thoroughbred  runner,  being  considered  by  many  to  be 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  horses  in  America,  He  also  has  a  Wilkes 
mare  of  trotting  fame,  a  very  fine  road  horse,  as  well  as  two  splen- 
did saddle  horses. 

What  time  he  can  spare  from  his  professional  duties  and  the 
charms  of  his  own  home — where  two  bright  and  charming  chil- 
dren, a  boy  and  a  girl,  gladden  their  parents'  lives — is  given  to  the 
Oconto  Club,  a  select  social  organization  of  the  north  side. 

Dr.  Printy  is  a  man  of  most  interesting  personality,  in  appear- 
ance very  distinguished,  of  kindly  manner,  and  at  all  times  and 
under  all  circumstances  most  affable  and  pleasant.  The  large  prac- 
tice he  has  gained  and  the  position  he  has  won  are  the  unques- 
tionable result  of  his  individual  and  untiring  work.  He  does  at 
once  honor  to  our  city,  to  the  great  land  that  gave  his  father  a 
home,  and  to  the  old  land  across  the  seas. 


JAMES   F.  QU1NN. 


James  F.  Quinn,  the  ex-State  Representative  of  the  old  Fourth 
District,  died  May  18th,  1896,  and  before  he  had  attained  his  forti- 
eth year.  He  was  a  member  of  the  loyal  "101"  band,  and  had 
proven  himself  a  most  honorable  and  useful  representative,  his  pre- 
mature death  consequently  cutting  short  a  career  that  promised 
great  things  for  himself  and  for  his  country,  and  being  a  cause  of 
deep  and  sincere  regret  to  a.  host  of  friends  and  admirers. 

Mr.  Quinn  was  born  of  Irish  parentage  in  St.  Louis,  July  28th, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  383 

185<>,  and  in  that  city  he  passed  his  youth  and  received  his  early 
education.  From  the  University  of  St.  Louis  lie  was  transferred 
to  Notre  Dame  University,  and  later  on,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  he 
graduated  from  the  Indiana  institution  of  learning,  immediately 
afterward  coming  to  Chicago.  Having  served  a  short  apprentice- 
ship at  stone  cutting,  he  became  a  most  expert  and  efficient  work- 
man, and  for  many  years  was  employed  by  the  Department  of  Pub- 
lic Works.  He  was  superintendent  of  the  stone  construction  of 
the  four  mile  crib,  of  the  north  side  water  works,  the  Taylor  Street 
viaduct,  and  of  the  Harrison  Street  pumping  station.  Most  suc- 
cessful as  Mr.  Quinn  was  in  the  trade  he  had  chosen,  and  though 
reaping  therefrom  substantial  rewards,  no  more  popular  man  ex- 
isted in  the  Fourth  District  than  he.  Quite  early  in  his  career  he 
had  taken  part  in  local  labor  circles,  was  a  fluent  talker,  and  at 
all  times  a  pleasant  companion  and  a  good  friend. 

In  1884  Mr.  Quinn  became  more  especially  interested  in  public 
matters,  and  from  that  period  his  whole  time  was  devoted  to  poli- 
tics. In  this  year  he  received  the  Democratic  nomination  for  the 
Legislature  in  the  old  Fourth  District  and  was  elected,  and  in  1888 
was  re-elected  by  a  good  majority.  Two  years  later  he  was  again 
re-elected,  after  a  hot  fight  with  the  opposing  candidate.  Before 
the  end  of  his  latter  term  he  was  attacked  with  dementia,  and  his 
confinement  in  the  Elgin  Asylum  necessitated.  His  record  in  the 
State  Legislature  gave  great  promise,  and  resolutions  of  regret 
were  passed  by  both  houses  when  the  young  Representative  was 
so  suddenly  incapacitated. 

Mr.  Quiun  was  mainly  instrumental  in  passing  the  Convict 
Labor  Bill,  which  passed  both  houses  but  was  afterwards  defeated 
by  a  vote  of  the  people,  possibly  from  a  general  misunderstanding 
as  to  the  import  and  intent  of  the  bill.  He  was  also  very  active  in 
supporting  the  bill  for  the  new  Public  Library.  When,  in  1800, 
John  M.  Palmer  was  candidate  for  Senator,  Mr.  Quinn  was  one  of 


384  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OP    THE 

his  most  active  supporters,  and,  as  has  been  mentioned,  was  one  of 
the  old  guard  of  "101"  who  stood  out  for  Palmer  and  finally  was 
successful  in  electing.  Mr.  Quinn's  success  in  business  and  his 
brief  but  brilliant  career  in  politics  have  been  referred  to,  and  also 
his  kindly  disposition,  which  won  for  him  such  general  popularity. 
This  kindliness  was  exhibited  both  in  his  social  and  commercial 
habits,  and  evinced  an  innate  goodness  of  heart  which  would  hardly 
allow  him  to  pass  a  child  in  the  street  without  some  gentle  word, 
and  by  his  immediate  household,  it  is  almost  needless  to  add,  he 
was  held  in  the  tenderest  affection. 

In  1885  Mr.  Quinn  was  married  to  Mary  E.  Healy,  of  Convoy, 
Ohio,  a  lady  who  proved  to  him  a  most  affectionate  and  helpful 
partner  and  whose  disposition  was  eminently  suited  to  the  varied 
gifts  of  the  young  and  honestly  ambitious  politician.  In  his  re- 
ligious views  he  was  a  devout  Roman  Catholic. 


DANIEL   B.  QUINLAN. 

Daniel  B.  Quinlan  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Kane  County,  111., 
November ,26th,  1851.  His  father  was  Daniel  Quinlan,  a  native  of 
Tipperary,  Ireland,  who  moved  to  New  Haven,  Conn.,  about  the 
year  1830,  there  marrying  Julia  Gleason,  also  from  Tipperary,  who 
became  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  They  moved  to 
Illinois  about  1842  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Kane  County,  near 
Elgin,  where  they  lived  until  3861  when  they  moved  to  Chicago. 
The  elder  Quinlan  was  much  respected  in  the  section  where  he 
lived  for  his  many  good  qualities  of  mind  and  heart;  he  died  in 
Chicago  in  1877.  His  wife,  who  died  in  1857,  had  several  brothers 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  385 

who  distinguished  themselves  in  this  country,  one  notably,  Capt. 
Mike  Gleason,  who  commanded  a  company  of  Gen.  Mulligan's  Irish 
Brigade  during  the  war  and  made  an  honorable  record. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  Chicago  with  his  parents 
when  he  was  ten  years  of  age.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
public  and  parochial  schools  of  the  French  Church,  leaving  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  and  finding  employment  with  the  Chicago,  Burling- 
ton &  Quiucy  R.  R.  Co.,  first  as  a  boy  and  then  as  brakeman,  bag- 
gageman, and  conductor.  In  1871,  when  he  was  twenty  years  of 
age,  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  traveling  passenger  agent, 
and  as  such  he  traveled  all  over  the  West  for  two  years,  being  then 
(in  1874)  further  promoted  to  the  very  responsible  position  of  city 
passenger  agent  for  Chicago.  This  position  he  retained  until  1880, 
when  the  Union  Pacific  R.  R.  Co.  invited  him  to  take  charge  of 
the  passenger  business  of  its  line  in  the  Northwest  States.  This 
he  accepted  and  retained  until  January  1st,  1882,  when  the  same 
road  offered  him  the  position  of  passenger  manager  for  the  East- 
ern district.  Mr.  Quinlan  held  this  position  for  two  years,  traveling 
over  the  East,  but  the  absence  of  all  domestic  comfort  in  a.  life 
which  required  him  to  be  on  the  road  all  the  time  then  induced 
him  to  seek  for  some  other  occupation.  Mr.  Quinlau  decided  to 
engage  in  the  undertaking  business,  and  in  that  has  remained  ever 
since.  He  has  been  unusually  successful,  having  conducted  some 
of  the  largest  funerals  which  have  taken  place  in  this  city.  That 
his  business  qualifications  are  of  the  highest  description,  that  un- 
varied success  conclusively  shows.  At  the  time  of  the  war  he  was 
very  anxious  to  take  his  part,  but  was  refused  on  the  score  of  his 
extreme  youth. 

Mr.  Quinlan  was  married,  September  29th,  1881,  to  Katherine 
C.  Linehan,  a  member  of  one  of  the  prominent  families  of  Dubuque, 
Iowa,  where  her  father  was  a  leading  merchant  and  her  brother  a 
District  Judge. 


386  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP    THE 

He  is  very  prominent  in  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  in 
which  he  has  gone  through  all  the  offices;  the  Independent  Order 
of  Foresters;  the  Undertakers'  Association;  National  Union;  and 
he  is  also  a  member  of  the  Sheridan  Club.  He  is  a  Roman  Catholic 
and  belongs  to  the  congregation  of  St.  James'  Church.  In  politics 
he  is  an  upholder  of  the  Democratic  party,  but  he  takes  little  in- 
terest except  the  candidate  be  a  personal  friend,  when  he  uses  his 
considerable  influence  to  help  his  return. 

Daniel  B.  Quinlan  is  a  man  of  fine  personal  appearance  and  of 
most  pleasing  and  courteous  manner.  He  is  esteemed  and  respected 
by  a  host  of  faithful  friends  for  his  good  personal  gifts,  as  well  as 
for  the  energetic  application  and  honorable  methods  to  which 
alone  he  attributes  his  business  success. 


THOMAS  FRANCIS  SHERIDAN. 


Thomas  Francis  Sheridan  was  born  at  Bridgeport,  Connecticut, 
June  1st,  1859,  and  is  the  son  of  Thomas  Sheridan,  a  native  of 
County  Antrim,  Ireland,  and  Julia  (Keane)  Sheridan,  the  latter 
being  born  in  England  of  Irish  parentage,  and  dying  when  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  twelve  months  old.  Thomas  Sheri- 
dan came  to  America  in  1832,  when  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age, 
settling  at  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  where  he  still  lives  in  the  enjoyment 
of  a  vigorous  old  age. 

Thomas  F.  Sheridan  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
town  and  later  the  public  schools  of  New  York  until  he  was  twelve 
years  old,  when  the  failure  of  his  father  in  business  compelled  the 
boy  to  go  out  into  the  world  and  make  a  living  for  himself. 


s^.^^< 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  389 

Duriiig  employment  somewhat  varied  in  character,  his  then 
fixed  idea  to  prepare  himself  for  the  profession  of  mechanical  en- 
gineer still  continued,  and  he  attended  the  evening  technical  school 
at  Bridgeport.  For  a  time  he  was  with  the  Waterbury  Watch  Co., 
as  draughtsman  and  designer,  later,  when  the  Seth  Thomas  Clock 
Co.  began  its  operations,  entering  its  employ  as  machine  modeler 
until  1885.  The  year  following  he  was  offered  the  position  of  me- 
chanical superintendent  of  the  Illinois  Watch  Co.,  of  Springfield, 
111.,  and  came  West.  While  holding  this  place,  he  was  reading  law 
by  the  aid  of  borrowed  books.  In  the  winter  of  1891  and  1892 
he  came  to  Chicago,  quickly  found  a  position  in  the  office  of  Ban- 
ning, Banning  &  Payson,  and  at  the  same  time  entered  the  Kent 
Law  School,  where  he  took  honors  both  in  the  junior  and  senior 
classes,  graduating  in  May,  1894.  On  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Pay- 
son  in  1893,  Mr.  Sheridan's  abilities  found  ready  recognition  in  the 
offer  to  go  into  partnership.  This  accepting,  the  firm  became  Ban- 
ning, Banning  &  Sheridan,  and  now  stands  as  high  as  any  firm  in 
the  country  as  patent  and  corporation  lawyers.  Mr.  Sheridan's 
education  and  experience  as  mechanical  engineer  makes  him 
especially  fitted  to  understand  and  try  patent  cases,  and  this  fact 
has  caused  him  to  be  retained  by  other  lawyers  in  a  considerable 
number  of  momentous  cases.  An  enthusiastic  bicyclist,  he  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  League  of  American  Wheelmen,  and  was 
for  some  time  first  vice-president  of  the  association.  In  this  regard, 
also,  his  services  have  been  retained  in  most  of  the  large  suits  where 
bicycle  patents  were  involved. 

Thomas  F.  Sheridan  has  all  his  life  been  a  Democrat.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  and  of  the  Benevolent  &  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks.  In  October,  1886,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Frances  Ager  of  Ansonia,  Conn.,  a  daughter  of  Colonel  George  S. 
Ager,  who  commanded  the  First  Connecticut  Artillery  during  the 
Civil  War.  They  have  one  child,  Thomas  Harold. 

20  ' 


390  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OP    THE 

Great  sympathy  for  Ireland  and  in  Irish  affairs  has  at  all  times 
been  shown  by  Mr.  Sheridan.  He  believes  himself  connected  with 
the  great  Richard  Brinsley  Sheridan,  and  in  the  near  future  intends 
to  devote  a  summer  vacation  to  investigation  in  Ireland  what  place 
the  Sheridans  have  taken  in  that  country's  history.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Chicago  Academy  of  Sciences,  the  French  Society  of 
Mechanical  Engineers,  and  also  of  the  American  Society  of  Me- 
chanical Engineers. 

The  habits  of  his  youth  still  continue,  and  he  is  always  a  very 
close  and  hard  student,  taking  a  most  active  interest  in  all  scien- 
tific subjects,  and  having  already  been  honored  with  a  number  of 
degrees  from  various  scientific  societies. 

Thomas  F.  Sheridan  is  a  young  man  of  splendid  personal  ap- 
pearance, of  most  amiable  manner,  and  of  great  professional  gifts. 
His  entirely  unaffected  and  unassuming  ways  have  endeared  him 
to  hundreds  with  whom  his  business  abilities  have  made  him  ac- 
quainted. The  broad  ranks  of  the  American  Irish  of  Chicago  take 
pride  in  numbering  in  their  lists  such  a  pleasing  character  as  the 
subject  of  this  sketch. 


RICHARD   QUINN. 


Richard  Quinn,  the  young  amateur  playwright  and  business 
man,  is  a  native  of  Ireland,  where  he  was  born,  at  Ballintarsna, 
County  Tipperary,  September  27th,  1865.  His  father,  Francis  P. 
Quinn,  was  a  gentleman  farmer  of  that  county,  and  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  born  in  the  old  homestead  that  had  been  in  the 
occupation  of  the  family  for  over  two  hundred  years.  In  many 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  391 

respects  the  father  was  a  typical  Irish  gentleman  and  had  received 
a  liberal  education  and  was  a  man  of  cultivated  mind  and  refined 
tastes.  His  father  had  spent  most  of  his  fortune,  some  thousands 
of  pounds,  in  fighting  tithes  and  other  exactions  which  he  consid- 
ered to  be  unjust.  Richard  Quinn's  mother,  Mary  Molloy,  is  a  sis- 
ter of  Rev.  Thomas  Molloy,  the  late  well  known  Jesuit.  The  family, 
including  Richard,  came  to  the  United  States  in  1864  and  settled 
in  Chicago. 

Richard  Quinn  was  educated  at  the  national  schools  of  his 
native  country  and  at  Holy  Cross  College,  County  Kerry.  It  was 
intended  that  he  should  follow  law  or  medicine,  but  neither  of 
these  professions  was  in  any  way  congenial,  so  after  coming  to 
Chicago  he  attended  the  Athenaeum  and  other  evening  schools, 
with  the  object  of  obtaining  a  more  commercial  education,  with 
knowledge  of  shorthand,  etc.  lie  also  read  largely  of  classic  litera- 
ture and  other  subjects. 

Before  coming  to  America  his  business  career  had  been  begun 
in  Ireland  in  the  dry  goods  business,  first  with  Messrs.  Scott  Bros., 
of  Cloumel,  and  afterward  in  Cork  City.  Six  months  after  his  ar- 
rival in  this  country  he  entered  the  employ  of  Marshall,  Field  &  Co., 
ami  there  he  has  since  remained.  Commenced  in  the  ribbon  depart- 
ment, he  later  changed  to  the  jewelry,  and  in  that  soon  advanced 
to  be  manager  and  buyer.  His  active  business  life  has  left  him 
scanty  opportunities  for  outside  occupations,  but  still  Mr.  Quinu 
has  found  time  not  only  to  keep  up  much  of  his  readings,  but  also 
to  become  somewhat  of  an  author  himself.  Several  plays  of  con- 
siderable merit,  and  which  have  gained  much  appreciation  among 
amateur  theatrical  circles,  for  whom  they  were  intended,  were  writ- 
ten by  him,  and  among  the  most  successful  may  be  mentioned: 
"Glenora,"  a  play  descriptive  of  Irish  life  and  character;  "Innis- 
fail;"  "Called  Away;"  and  "Love  and  Valor." 

Mr.  Quinn  has  also  achieved  as  an  amateur  actor  considerable 


392  BIOGRAPHICAL,   HISTORY    OP    THE 

reputation  in  Chicago  and  the  neighboring  towns  and  cities.  Hav- 
ing joined  a  dramatic  club,  the  members  frequently  found  diffi- 
culty in  obtaining  suitable  plays,  and  this  proved  the  incentive  for 
Mr.  Quinn  to  try  his  hand,  or  rather,  brain,  and  with  his  very  first 
effort  success  and  appreciation  were  met.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
"Innisfail"  Dramatic  Club  and  the  Whittier  Literary  Society.  Peri- 
odically he  visits  New  York  ajid  the  New  England  States  as  buyer 
for  his  department. 

Mr.  Quinn  is  a  Roman  Catholic  in  religious  affiliations,  and  in 
his  political  views  is  a  Democrat,  but  a  firm  believer  in  sound 
money,  and  cast  his  vote  for  William  McKinley. 

In  Mr.  Quinn's  career  there  is  met  with  the  somewhat  unusual 
circumstance  of  a  young  man  exhibiting  and  exercising  business 
talents  of  a  high  order,  combined  with  indefatigable  industry— 
speedily  rising  to  be  the  head  of  his  department — and  yet  at  the 
same  time  capable  of  exercising  his  genius  in  a  totally  different 
direction  and  in  each  of  obtaining  a  marked  success,  the  one  at  no 
time  leading  him  to  neglect  the  other. 


DAVID  JOHN   MAHONEY. 


David  John  Mahoney,  Assistant  Fire  Marshal  of  the  Chicago 
Fire  Department,  was  born  June  8th,  1852,  on  the  corner  of  Fifth 
Avenue  and  Quincy  Street,  Chicago,  where  his  father  owned  some 
property.  Of  his  parents,  William  Mahoney,  his  father,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Cork,  by  occupation  a  sailor.  He  left  the  old  country  in 
1843,  sailed  on  the  lakes  for  many  years,  and  at  the  age  of  sev- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  393 

euty-five  still  lives  in  this  city.  The  Mahoneys  are  a  long  lived 
family,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject  living  to  be  ninety-six  years 
old.  William  Mahoney  had  married  Norah  Hannan,  a  native  of 
County  Clare,  Ireland,  and  she  also  is  living. 

David  John  Mahoney  attended  St  John's  school  until  he  was 
fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he  set  to  work  as  a  teamster.  In  this  he 
remained  for  six  years,  when  he  secured  a  better  position  at  the 
stock  jyards,  with  a  commission  house,  his  particular  duty  being 
the  weighing  of  cattle.  This  position  he  held  for  four  years  until 
1874,  when  he  was  appointed  a  driver  in  the  Chicago  Fire  Depart- 
ment with  assignment  to  Engine  No.  1.  During  the  following  six 
years  he  drove  No.  1,  No.  8,  and  in  August,  1880,  was  made  a  truck- 
man and  sent  to  hook  and  ladder  No.  4.  December  31st,  1880,  he 
became  lieutenant  and  was  sent  to  Engine  No.  2,  being  transferred 
June,  1881,  to  No.  9.  Eighteen  months  afterward  he  was  sent  to 
No.  16,  and  on  September  5th,  1885,  received  promotion  to  a  cap- 
taincy, remaining  with  the  same  company  until  1889,  when  he  was 
sent  to  No.  16.  July  1st,  1893,  he  was  promoted  to  be  assistant 
fire  marshal  and  chief  of  the  10th  Battalion,  with  headquarters  at 
the  house  of  No.  16,  Thirty-first  and  Dearborn  Streets. 

Marshal  Mahoney  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  an  attendant  of  the 
Church  of  St.  Elizabeth's,  at  Forty-first  and  Wabash  Avenue.  In 
his  political  views  he  is  extremely  liberal. 

He  was  married,  June  1st,  1874,  to  Miss  Kate  Barry  of  Chicago, 
and  they  have  had  six  children,  of  whom  four  girls  are  living,  while 
two  boys  have  died. 

Assistant  Marshal  Mahoney  bears  a  splendid  record  in  the  fire 
department,  and  has  obtained  frequent  mention  for  bravery  in 
general  orders.  In  a  fire  on  Archer  Avenue,  August  29th,  1887, 
he,  with  several  gallant  companions,  was  the  means  of  rescuing 
seven  lives,  and  their  bravery'  received  most  honorable  commenda- 
tion. 


394  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF   THE 

A  man  of  flue  appearance,  of  kindly  and  courteous  manner,  ever 
eager  to  help  a  friend  and  always  willing  to  assist  the  deserving, 
there  is  none  more  honorably  reckoned  in  the  Chicago  Fire  Depart- 
ment than  the  genial  chief  of  the  10th  Battalion,  Assistant  Marshal 
David  John  Mahoney. 


MARK   F.   MADDEN. 

Than  the  lives  of  those  who  have  'risen  from  the  ranks  and  by 
unswerving  integrity  and  continuous  hard  work  have  conquered 
fate,  there  is  nothing  more  interesting,  more  elevating,  or  more 
encouraging.  The  sternest  opposition,  bitter  trials,  difficulties  ap- 
parently insurmountable,  sink  into  mere  shadows  before  energy, 
self-reliance,  and  earnest  perseverance  of  character.  Success  may 
long  elude,  but  it  is  bound  to  come  in  time  to  those  who  persist- 
ently and  perseveriugly  strive.  These  facts  the  life  of  Mr.  Madden 
will  illustrate. 

Mark  Francis  Madden,  partner  with  his  brother  Michael  in 
the  well  known  firm  of  Madden  Brothers,  was  born  at  Whitby, 
Pickering  County,  Province  of  Ontario,  Canada,  June  18,  1858.  His 
father,  John  L.  Madden,  was  a  native  of  County  Roscommon,  Ire- 
laud,  and  with  his  wife  had  come  to  America  in  1849,  locating  per- 
manently at  Whitby,  Ontario.  By  occupation  he  is  a  farmer,  and 
now,  at  the  ripe  age  of  seventy-six,  is  still  hale  and  hearty.  His 
wife,  formerly  Maria  Murphy,  was  also  born  in  Eoscommon.  She 
died  in  1893,  aged  seventy -three.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  L.  Madden 
raised  a  family  of  nine  children—  eight  sons,  of  whom  the  subject 
of  our  sketch  is  the  fifth — and  one  daughter,  the  only  child  who 
still  resides  in  Canada,  all  the  others  having  settled  in  Chicago. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  395 

M.  F.  Madden  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  where  he 
remained  until  he  was  sixteen.  He  then  found  a  place  with  a  dry 
goods  store,  as  apprentice,  his  wages  to  be  f 6  a  month  for  the  first 
year,  $8  for  the  second,  and  $10  per  month  for  the  third  year.  So 
useful  did  he  show  himself  that  before  the  first  twelve  months  was 
over  he  was  in  receipt  of  $400  a  year.  In  1878  he  sought  a  larger 
field  for  his  activities,  and  went  to  Buffalo,  New  York,  afterwards 
visiting  Louisville,  Ky.,  New  York  City,  and  other  places.  Not 
until  September,  1884,  however,  did  he  find  permanent  location 
in  Chicago,  having  spent  the  two  preceding  years  in  traveling  over 
the  United  States  in  the  interest  of  an  adding  machine,  the  patent 
on  which  he  owned.  The  possibilities  of  real  estate  transactions 
appealed  powerfully  to  his  active  and  vigorous  mind,  and  with 
his  brother,  Michael  S.  (whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
volume),  a  partnership  was  formed  under  the  name  of  Madden 
Bros.  The  firm,  which  was  so  quickly  to  become  one  of  the  largest 
in  the  West,  had  its  beginning  in  a  small  way,  but  it  now  covers  all 
business  in  connection  with  real  estate,  brokerage,  the  buying, 
selling — in  fact,  the  full  charge  of  estates  and  properties,  rents, 
loans,  and  the  placing  of  insurance.  The  firm  is  now  located  on 
the  fifth  floor  of  the  Marquette  Building,  Chicago's  finest  office 
structure,  and  the  name,  Madden  Bros.,  is  Avell  borne  out,  for  as- 
sociated in  the  business,  but  acting  under  the  superintendence  and 
supervision  of  the  two  founders,  Mark  F.  and  Michael  S.  Madden, 
are  their  six  brothers,  James  A.,  Thomas,  Edward  R,  Joseph  P., 
George  II.,  and  John. 

Mr.  M.  F.  Madden,  who  is  still  a  bachelor,  is  a  member  of  sev- 
eral clubs.  The  Chicago  Athletic  Club,  over  whose  St.  Patrick's 
Day  celebration  banquet  he  ably  presided,  in  1896,  the  Sheridan, 
and  the  Columbus.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  famous  Irish 
American  Club,  which  is  now  out  of  existence,  but  which  was  the 
home  of  the  Irish  in  Chicago,  and  the  resort  of  the  great  Irish  lead- 


396  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

ers  when  they  visited  this  country.     He  acted  as  its  treasurer  in 
1892. 

In  politics  strongly  Democratic,  Mr.  Madden  is  a  staunch  be- 
liever in  the  principles  of  his  party.  He  contributes  generously  to 
all  worthy  charities,  and  strongly  interests  himself  in  educational 
institutions,  expressing  himself  as  satisfied  that  in  the  broader 
and  more  liberal  education  now  being  afforded  many  of  the  ills  of 
the  people  will  be  removed  and  the  greater  happiness  of  the  greater 
number  thereby  assured. 


PATRICK   DANIEL  TYRRELL. 


This  justly  celebrated  detective  was  born  in  Dublin,  Ireland, 
March  13th,  1831.  His  parents  were  John  and  Bridget  (Kelly) 
Tyrrell,  both  natives  of  Kildare,  and  he  is  proud  to  record  that  mem- 
bers of  his  family  helped  to  make  Irish  history  during  the  troublous 
times  of  1798.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  three  years  old 
when  his  parents  moved  to  America,  finding  a  location  in  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.  Here  his  father  secured  employment  in  the  ship  yards,  but 
the  family  was  in  such  poor  circumstances  that  Patrick  D.  Tyrrell 
was  not  able  to  go  to  school  and  found  work  in  the  ship  yards  at 
the  early  age  of  fourteen.  At  this  he  continued  until  he  was  nine- 
teen years  of  age  and  learned  thoroughly  the  ship  joiner's  trade. 

He  moved  to  Dunkirk,  N.  Y.,  April  1st,  1850,  there  finding  work 
as  a  carpenter  until  a  couple  of  years  later  he  was  appointed  a 
police  officer  for  that  village.  For  this  occupation  he  showed  con- 
siderable inclination,  and  even  at  that  early  age  proved  very  suc- 
cessful as  a  detective.  A  collection  of  pictures  of  criminals  which 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  399 

he  had  gathered  during  this  time  was  the  first  rogues'  gallery  west 
of  New  York.  His  peculiar  ability  found  recognition  from  the 
governor  of  New  York,  August  9th,  1863,  when  he  was  appointed 
state  railroad  detective,  an  office  which  gave  him  authority  over 
the  entire  length  of  the  Erie  Railroad,  and  at  the  same  time  he  was 
appointed  to  the  office  of  deputy  sheriff.  He  became  well  known 
and  made  himself  very  highly  considered  throughout  the  county. 
Later  he  was  one  of  the  first  deputy  collectors  of  revenue  to  be  ap- 
pointed by  President  Lincoln. 

Concluding  to  go  west  in  1869,  he  started  for  California,  but  stop- 
ping off  at  Chicago,  there  met  a  fellow  citizen  of  Dunkirk  who 
had  a  suit  in  court  against  two  of  the  Chicago  railroads.  Being 
aware  of  Mr.  Tyrrell's  ability  as  a  detective  he  employed  him  to 
collect  evidence,  and  after  being  engaged  some  thirteen  months  the 
latter  managed  to  collect  so  much  evidence  that  the  railroad  was 
glad  to  compromise  for  f  10,000.  Jacob  Rehm,  then  commissioner 
and  afterwards  chief  of  police,  knowing  of  the  good  work  he  had 
done,  as  a  detective  at  Dunkirk,  N.  Y.,  offered  him  on  January  14th, 
1872,  the  position  of  detective  for  the  Chicago  Police  Commission. 
He  remained  actively  employed  on  the  Chicago  police  force  for  two 
years,  being  very  successful  in  a  number  of  murder  cases  and  big 
hotel  robberies.  In  one  of  his  cases,  that  in  which  Fanny  C.  Shot- 
well  was  robbed  of  $51,000  worth  of  bonds,  he  traced  the  robbers 
over  the  country  between  Chicago  and  New  York,  arresting  them 
in  the  latter  city  and  recovering  all  the  bonds.  He  was  also  able  to 
handle  successfully  some  cases  that  were  placed  in  his  hands  after 
all  the  other  detectives  of  the  department  had  unsuccessfully 
tried  to  unravel. 

Elmer  Wash-burn,  who  had  been  chief  of  the  Chicago  police,  was 
appointed  December  1st,  1874,  chief  of  the  United  States  secret  ser- 
vice and  at  once  offered  Mr.  Tyrrell  a  position  under  him.  This  ac- 
cepting, he  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  country  west  of  Chicago  to 


400  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

Ban  Francisco,  and  from  St.  Paul  to  New  Orleans,  with  headquarters 
iu  Chicago,  this  extensive  area  being  necessarily  one  of  very  great 
responsibility.  An  interesting  case  with  which  he  was  connected 
was  the  conspiracy  organized  November  5th,  1876,  with  the  object 
of  stealing  the  body  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  which  was  buried  at 
Springfield,  111.  The  plot  was  deep  and  well  laid,  and  the  object  to 
hold  the  body  until  |200,000  ransom  was  paid  and  a  pardon  granted 
a  criminal  named  Ben  Boyd,  who  was  then  in  the  state  penitentiary. 
Through  the  sagacity  of  Mr.  Tyrrell,  this  plot  was  discovered  and 
the  would-be  grave  robbers  sent  to  state's  prison.  In  the  whisky 
ring  cases  in  1876  he  did  some  good  work.  Another  important 
case  was  the  Missouri  land  steal  case,  where  a,t  the  special  request 
of  Secretary  of  the  Interior  Carl  Schurz  he  was  detailed  by  the  De- 
partment of  the  Treasury  to  work  in  the  Department  of  the  Interior. 
In  this  case  twenty-two  men,  bankers,  lawyers  and  other  citizens 
residing  all  over  the  section  of  the  country  west  of  St.  Paul  had  en- 
tered into  a  conspiracy  to  forge  land  warrants  on  the  State  of 
Missouri  to  the  extent  of  6,000,000  of  acres  of  land.  Success 
crowned  their  efforts  until  Mr.  Tyrrell  found  a  trail,  and  then  his 
work  was  quick,  and  in  a  short  time  their  crime  was  being  ex- 
piated in  the  state's  prison. 

Mr.  Tyrrell  was  also  instrumental  in  the  arrest  of  Lucian  A. 
White  of  Waco,  Texas,  and  the  recovery  of  $346,000  worth  of 
forged  milries  of  the  Brazilian  government.  As  interesting  records 
of  his  many  experiments,  he  has  five  scrap  books  with  over  six- 
teen hundred  pictures  of  criminals,  and  another  book  with  por- 
traits of  counterfeiters  arrested  by  himself  and  sent  up  for  different 
terms. 

Elmer  W'ashburn,  chief  of  the  secret  service,  to  him  gave  the 
credit  of  breaking  the  back  bone  of  counterfeiting  in  the  United 
States  by  arresting  a  large  and  important  gang  in  Fulton  and 
Centralia,  111.  Dyer's  Government  Blue  Book,  which  is  a  history  of 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  401 

the  secret  service,  has  the  following  to  say  concerning  his  work: 
"Detective  Tyrrell  has  arrested  more  counterfeiters,  captured  more 
counterfeit  money,  and  done  more  to  break  up  the  business  than 
any  one  who  was  ever  connected  with  the  secret  service." 

Mr.  Tyrrell,  after  serving  twelve  years  in  the  secret  service,  re- 
signed and  went  to  his  farm  in  Kansas,  July  1st,  1886,  remaining 
three  years  there.  At  the  end  of  this  time  he  returned  to  Chicago 
and  again  entered  the  police  department  as  sergeant  of  detectives. 
As  might  well  be  expected  he  continued  to  show  his  capacity  for 
the  position,  and  two  years  since,  having  been  specially  assigned  to 
the  Civil  Service  Board,  he  has  been  of  great  assistance  in  its  work- 
ing, particularly  in  correcting  the  evils  done  by  justice  of  the  peace 
courts,  by  straw  bail  bonds,  the  stuffing  of  city  pay  rolls,  and  other 
evils  of  a  similar  description. 

During  the  war  Mr.  Tyrrell  well  took  his  part,  serving  in  the 
Sixty-eighth  New  York  Volunteers.  He  was  prominent  in  the 
Citizens'  Reform  Association  of  1893,  being  Chairman  of  the  first 
meeting  of  that  body,  but  later  he  refused  to  accept  any  office.  The 
association  has  now  over  seventeen  hundred  members  and  has  been 
able  to  do  a  great  deal  of  good. 

Detective  Officer  Tyrrell  was  married,  December  1st,  1850,  at 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Mary  Shannon,  and  they  have  had  seven 
children,  of  whom  three  are  living.  His  first  wife  dying,  he  mar- 
ried, August  9th,  1875,  Kate  Osborue,  of  Erie,  Pa.,  and  by  her  has 
had  two  children. 

In  his  religious  views  a  strict  Roman  Catholic,  he  is  an  attend- 
ant of  the  Rev.  Father  Butler's  Church.  In  his  politics  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, and  is  highly  thought  of  by  the  party,  the  great  record 
he  has  made  in  his  profession  assuring  him  an  important  position 
under  the  new  administration. 

Irish  affairs  have  always  been  to  him  of  very  great  interest, 
;iud  heart,  sympathy,  and  pocket  have  always  been  ready  where 


402  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

the  country  of  his  birth  a.nd  his  father's  was  concerned.  An  unas- 
suming man  of  splendid  abilities,  no  roll  of  Chicago's  American 
Irish  would  be  complete  were  it  wanting  in  the  name  of  Patrick 
Daniel  Tyrrell. 


JAMES   MAHER. 


James  Maher  is  an  American  Irishman  of  whom  his  fellow  coun- 
trymen may  well  feel  proud. 

He  was  born  in  Will  County,  Illinois,  May  24th,  1859.  His 
father,  Thomas,  and  mother,  Ellen  (Kenefick)  Maher,  came  to  the 
United  States  from  Limerick,  Ireland,  about  1849,  settling  first  in 
Vermont,  a,nd  finally  locating  in  Will  County,  Illinois,  in  1853. 
The  elder  Maher  was  a  farmer,  who  by  industry  and  natural  apti- 
tude managed  to  acquire  considerable  property.  Somewhat  of  a 
politician,  he  was  a  man  of  much  influence  in  the  district  in  which 
he  resided  and  bore  a  very  high  reputation.  Mrs.  Maher  died 
Christmas,  1893,  and  Mr.  Maher,  February  22d,  1896.  They  had 
two  daughters — Mary,  married  to  Joseph  Murphy,  and  Norah. 

James  Maher  followed  the  usual  course  of  farmers'  sons  at  that 
time,  working  on  the  farm  in  summer  and  securing  what  schooling 
he  could  during  the  winter  at  the  district  schools.  With  great 
pride  he  relates  how  he  used  to  get  out  of  bed  at  four  in  the  cold 
winter  mornings  for  the  purpose  of  going  to  town  with  a  wagon 
load  of  farm  products,  his  father  driving  one  wagon  and  he  follow- 
ing with  another.  Work  of  this  kind  caused  James  Maher  to  de- 
velop into  a  strong  healthy  lad,  with  a  keen  thirst  for  knowledge 
and  every  determination  to  acquire  despite  all  difficulties. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  403 

He  soon  absorbed  all  that  the  district  schools  of  his  native 
town  could  teach  him,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  was  sent  to  St. 
Viateur's  College,  at  Kankakee,  111.,  where  he  remained  for  four 
years.  His  college  course  completed,  he  was  recalled  in  1880  to 
accept  the  professorship  of  geometry  and  trigonometry,  and  after- 
wards that  of  English  literature.  As  showing  how  advanced  he 
was  at  this  time  in  his  studies,  it  is  worthy  of  mention  that  he 
was  professor  in  the  college  while  at  the  same  time  taking  a  clas- 
sical course  therein. 

Among  his  contemporary  fellow  students  were  many  men  who 
are  -now  high  in  the  church  or  holding  important  positions  in  pri- 
vate life.  Mr.  Maher  remained  at  this  college  as  student  and  pro- 
fessor until  1883,  when  he  graduated  with  high  honors,  receiving 
the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts. 

Having  decided  to  take  up  the  profession  of  law,  he  studied  for 
some  time  in  an  office  in  Kankakee,  when,  having  established  his 
faith  in  Chicago  as  the  best  field  for  a  young  man  of  ability,  he 
came  to  this  city.  Having  read  law  for  one  year,  he  then  attended 
for  the  same  period  the  Union  College  of  Law,  both  junior  and 
senior  classes  being  taken  at  the  same  time,  and  so  assiduous  was 
he  that  he  managed  to  complete  a  two  years'  course  of  lectures  in 
one  year,  and  not  desiring  to  wait  for  his  class  he  went  to  Ottawa, 
making  application  to  the  Supreme  Court  to  be  licensed.  He  was 
examined,  received  a  license,  and  having  graduated  with  the  senior 
class  of  the  Union  College,  at  once  began  to  practice  law  in  Chi- 
cago. His  specialty  is  commercial  law  and  he  represents  several 
very  large  corporations  and  large  business  firms,  from  which  he 
derives  a  considerable  income. 

He  received  the  appointment  of  Attorney  for  the  West  Town 
from  1891  and  1892,  and  of  County  Attorney  in  1893.  Mr.  Maher  is 
a  prominent  and  old  time  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the 
Catholic  Benevolent  Legion,  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  and  the 


404  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

Cook  County  Marching  Club.  A  Democrat  always,  he  believes  that 
were  all  citizens  to  take  an  active  interest  in  election  matters  and 
attend  the  primaries,  better  government  would  be  assured.  He  prac- 
tices what  he  preaches,  and  in  his  ward — the  Ninth — is  very  prom- 
inent. 

Mr.  Maher  was  married  to  Mary  C.  Rafferty,  niece  of  ex- Alder- 
man Rafferty,  in  1891,  and  they  have  two  children — Mary  and 
Thomas  Francis. 

This  is  necessarily  but  a  brief  sketch  of  the  career  of  an  Amer- 
ican Irishman  who,  by  sheer  force  of  character,  sterling  abilities, 
and  the  strictest  honesty  and  the  most  complete  integrity  towards 
his  clients'  interests,  has  succeeded  in  making  a  reputation  as  a 
lawyer  and  a  citizen  at  a  comparatively  early  age,  giving  promise 
of  a  future  of  marked  utility  to  his  country. 


MICHAEL  J.  QUINN. 


Michael  J.  Quinn  was  born  in  the  County  of  Roscommon,  Ire- 
land, June  23d,  1852.  His  parents  were  Michael  and  Bridget 
(Lefin)  Quinn.  The  latter — now  over  eighty — is  still  living  in 
Ireland,  but  his  father  died  in  1855. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  pla,ce  until  at  fourteen  years  of  age  he  was  compelled  to 
go  to  work  to  help  his  mother  in  the  support  of  the  family.  He 
was  nineteen  years  of  age  when  he  concluded  (in  1871)  to  seek  his 
fortune  in  the  new  world,  and,  setting  out  for  Chicago,  left  every 
relative  and  friend  he  possessed  behind. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  405 

His  first  employment  in  this  city  was  as  a  day  laborer,  but  he 
was  ready  and  willing  for  whatever  he  could  find,  and  at  the  end 
of  three  years  secured  a  better  position  at  the  Government  Build- 
ing, then  being  erected  at  Dearborn  and  Adams  Streets.  Here  he 
was  given  charge  of  a  body  of  men  and  remained  four  years;  later 
working  for  the  Armour  Packing  Company,  weighing  meat;  and 
also  as  foreman  for  the  Pullman  Company  when  they  were  build- 
ing the  town  of  Pullman. 

The  subject  of  politics  has  from  the  time  of  his  first  arrival  in 
this  country  been  to  him  one  of  the  greatest  interest.  In  April, 
1884,  he  received  the  nomination  for  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace  for  Hyde  Park,  and  this  he  has  held  four  terms.  For  the  pop- 
ularity he  possesses  in  his  district,  the  fact  that  at  the  convention 
held  in  the  spring  of  1886  he  was  the  only  officer  nominated  by 
acclamation,  speaks  volumes.  Irrespective  of  party,  the  people  are 
with  him,  and  his  election  on  one  occasion  was  on  the  Citizens' 
ticket,  and  on  another  on  the  Taxpayers*  ticket. 

Justice  Quinn  is  an  influential  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum, 
and  for  nine  years  was  president  of  Division  No.  5  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  Hibernians,  a  position  he  had  to  resign  on  moving  to  Hyde 
Park.  In  his  religious  views  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a  member 
of  the  Parish  of  St.  Lawrence. 

He  was  married,  February  19th,  1889,  to  Miss  Margaret  Hack- 
ett,  of  Chicago,  and  they  have  had  four  children. 

A  thorough  Irishman,  ever  ready  to  take  his  part  in  every 
movement  with  purpose  the  good  of  his  native  land,  Justice  Quinn 
has  by  energy,  determination  and  ability  made  for  himself  a  high 
place  in  the  community  and  has  gained  at  the  same  time  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  every  one  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  into  busi- 
ness or  social  contact. 


406  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 


PATRICK  L.  GARRITY. 


P.  L.  Garrity,  one  of  Chicago's  old  time,  best  known  and  most 
highly  respected  citizens,  was  born  February  22d,  1843,  near  West- 
port,  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  where  his  father,  John  Garrity,  was 
for  many  years  connected  with  the  mail  service.  Early  in  the  for- 
ties the  latter  emigrated  to  Chicago  and  took  part  in  the  works  on 
the  Illinois  £  Michigan  Canal,  later  entering  the  employ  of  E.  P. 
Burlingame  &  Co.,  as  foreman  of  their  employes  in  their  extensive 
elevator  and  warehousing  business.  Eventually,  however,  he  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business  on  the  North  Side  and  in  that  he  re- 
mained until  the  great  fire  of  1871;  his  death  followed  a  few  years 
later.  The  mother  of  Patrick  L.  was  Catherine  Lally,  also  of 
County  Mayo,  and  she  also  is  deceased.  During  her  lifetime  she 
was  one  of  the  most  respected  members  of  the  Holy  Name  parish, 
where  she  will  ever  be  remembered  by  the  poor  of  that  parish  for 
her  acts  of  charity  and  kindness,  especially  by  those  who  are  sur- 
vived the  cholera  plague  of  1851. 

In  1849,  when  six  years  of  age,  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch 
came  to  Chicago,  crossing  the  Atlantic  in  company  with  his  mother 
and  the  rest  of  the  family,  to  join  the  father,  who,  some  two  years 
previously,  had  preceded  them.  For  a  couple  of  years  the  boy  at- 
tended the  public  school  and  at  the  age  of  eight  years,  a  well  de- 
nned business  instinct  led  him  to  engage  in  selling  fruit  at  the 
steamboat  landings  and  shortly  afterward  he  obtained  employment 
with  Stevens  &  French,  who  were  at  that  period  one  of  the  largest 
fruit  houses  in  the  city.  In  1853  he  started  in  as  a  carrier  of  the 
Chicago  Journal,  then,  as  now,  an  afternoon  paper,  but  a  year  or 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  409 

so  later  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Chicago  Democrat  as  a  car- 
rier, and  in  1855  became  mailing  clerk  on  that  paper,  a  position  he 
held  until  1858,  when  he  resigned  to  take  a  year's  course  at  the 
University  of  Notre  Dame.  That  completed,  he  re-engaged  with 
the  Democrat  in  his  old  capacity,  at  the  same  time  taking  the  com- 
mercial course  at  St.  Mary's  of  the  Lake,  and  in  that  way  gaining 
a  full  and  complete  knowledge  of  book-keeping  and  commercial 
law.  In  1859  he  was  one  of  the  owners  and  organizers  of  the  first 
Hotel  Reporter  in  Chicago,  and  in  this  connection  a  misunderstand- 
ing occurred  between  Long  John  Wentworth  and  himself,  which 
caused  him  to  resign  and  accept  a  position  with  the  North  Chicago 
Railroad  Company,  succeeding  Mr.  Courtright  as  receiving  cashier, 
paymaster  and  ticket  seller,  performing,  indeed,  duties  that  now  re- 
quire a  small  army  of  officials. 

From  this  office  he  soon  resigned,  not  on  account  of  the  amount 
of  work,  but  because  of  the  insufficiency  of  remuneration  given. 
His  next  engagement,  was  as  mailing  clerk  with  the  Chicago 
Herald,  at  that  time  owned  by  C.  II.  McCormick  and  edited  by  ex- 
Governor  McCormick,  who  was  his  staunch  friend.  Among  his  as- 
sociates at  that  time  on  the  Herald  was  the  well-known  West  Side 
merchant  John  M.  Smyth,  and  in  this  employment  he  continued 
until  after  the  consolidation  of  the  Times  and  Herald  under  the 
Wilbur  F.  Storey  management,  about  the  time  the  war  broke  out. 

Then  eighteen  years  old,  full  of  life  and  ambition,  Mr.  Garrity 
took  a  lively  interest  in  recruiting  for  the  army  and  was  only  de- 
terred from  joining  himself  by  the  offer  of  a  partnership  in  the 
confectionery  business  of  Edward  Scanlan,  one  of  such  an  advan- 
tageous character  to  the  young  man  that  the  partnership  papers, 
which  were  drawn  by  Mr.  Thomas  Kinsella,  at  that  time  Collector 
of  the  Port,  were  signed  May  1st,  1861.  The  firm  Scanlan  &  Gar- 
rity  had  its  place  of  business  at  18  South  Clark,  but  shortly  after 
the  firm  had  started,  the  small  capital  of  the  firm  was  swept  away  in 

21 


410  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

part  by  the  failure  of  E.  I.  Tinkham's  Bank.     The  stroke  of  ill 
fortune  was  a  hard  one,  but  nothing  daunted,  the  firm  succeeded, 
and  by  the  sale  of  its  lease  to  the  United  States  Express  Co.,  re- 
sulted in  doubling  its  capital  and  moved  to  new  premises  at  79  Ran- 
dolph Street.     It  was  about  this  time  that  Mr.  Garrity  made  a  hard 
fight  against  the  late  Thomas  Mackin  for  the  post  sutlership  of 
Camp   Douglas,   then  under  the  command  of  Col.  Mulligan,  and 
though  he  failed  to  obtain,  he  received  the  appointment  of  sutler  to 
the  Fifty -eighth  Illinois,  commanded  by  Col.W.  Lynch  at  Camp  But- 
ler, Springfield,  from  which  he  returned  after  some  two  years  to 
take  active  management  in  the  firm  of  Scanlan  &  Garrity,  which,  the 
1st  of  May,  1865,  removed  to  49  State  Street.     The  following  Sep- 
tember Mr.  Scanlan  retired  and  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  P.  L. 
Garrity,  and  under  his  energetic  management  trade  grew  and  pros- 
pered until  in  1870  the  business  reached  over  one  million  dollars, 
the  large  building  of  four  stories  and  basement  at  33  and  35  River 
Street  was  occupied.     The  fire  of  1871  swept  away  the  building, 
like  all  others  in  the  business  section,  and  with  it  was  consumed  a 
stock   of   goods   worth  nearly  |100,000,  as  well  as  the  savings  of 
years.    Another  disaster  came  the  May  following,  when  a  distillery, 
in  which  Mr.  Garrity  was  a  part  owner,  was  burnt  to  the  ground, 
with  contents  valued  at  f 3f>,000,  and  not  one  cent  of  insurance. 
Even  this  accumulation  of  misfortunes  could  not  crush  his  am- 
bitious and  energetic  spirit;   business  was  speedily  resumed,  but 
only  to  discover  his  crippled  resources  were  too  limited  to  give  him 
a  fair  chance  of  success.     The  panic  of  '73  and  '74  followed,  bring- 
ing many  millionaires  to  poverty.     Mr.  Garrity  recognized  the  fu- 
tility of  struggling  along  with  insufficient  capital,  and  at  the  close 
of  1875  he  sold  his  business  and  on  January  1st,  1876,  accepted  a 
position  with  the  wholesale  grocery  house  of  Towle  &  Roper.     Two 
and  a  half  years  were  spent  with  that  firm  and  then  once  more  he 
started  for  himself  in  the  cigar  and  tobacco  business,  which  had  in 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  411 

former  years  been  a  branch  of  his  business.  Locating  first  at  23 
Lake  Street  he  moved  afterwards  to  49  Dearborn  Street,  and  when 
the  First  National  Bank  Building  was  completed,  made  another 
change  to  103-105  Monroe  Street,  where  the  vaults  of  the  bank  are 
now  installed.  On  the  1st  of  May,  1884,  he  joined  the  Hamburger 
Bros,  in  forming  a  corporation  with  a  capital  of  $250,000,  and  of 
this  Mr.  Garrity  was  made  President  until  1887,  when  he  retired  to 
connect  himself  with  Heyman  Bros.  &  Lowenstein,  manufacturers 
of  cigars  in  New  York  City,  as  their  general  agent,  being  given  en- 
tire charge  of  their  outside  business.  In  this  he  has  been  so  sig- 
nally successful  that  his  yearly  income  from  that  source  amounts, 
we  are  informed,  to  more  than  $20,000.  Mr.  Garrity  is  at  the  same 
time  President  of  the  National  Cereal  Company,  which  is  engaged 
in  milling  of  cereal  goods  in  the  City  of  St.  Louis;  and  is  the  owner 
of  the  majority  of  the  stock.  He  also  has  mining  interests  of  con- 
siderable value,  and  is  the  owner  of  some  valuable  Chicago  real 
estate. 

Mr.  Garrity  was  married  June  21st,  1864,  to  Miss  Nellie  A.  Mc- 
Nellis,  a  daughter  of  John  McNellis  of  Morris,  Illinois,  at  that  time, 
and  for  years  after,  the  largest  grain  dealer  and  shipper  on  the 
Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal,  if  not  in  the  state.  They  have  had  a 
family  of  thirteen  children,  of  whom  ten  are  living,  and  of  these 
the  youngest  son,  who  was  named  after  the  present  reigning  Pope 
—Leo  the  Thirteenth — together  with  a  brother,  Lawrence  McNellis, 
is  attending  the  University  of  Notre  Dame;  three  daughters,  An- 
gela, Aurelia  and  Maude,  are  at  St.  Mary's,  the  last  named  being  a 
post  graduate;  and  Grace,  Blanche  and  Mary,  all  of  whom  wen- 
educated  at  St.  Mary's,  are  at  home,  Mary  being  married.  Of  the 
other  sons,  the  eldest,  Joseph  H.,  is  a  doctor,  practicing  in  this  city: 
and  Frank  is  married  and  is  treasurer  of  the  National  Cereal  Com- 
pany at  St.  Louis.  Mr.  Garrity,  who  is  very  well  preserved  and 
certainly  does  not  so  appear,  is  now  twice  a  grandfather.  In  re- 


412  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

ligion  lie  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  as  he  takes  some  pride  in  stating, 
is  not  only  so  in  name,  but  also  in  fact. 

In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat,  but  votes  entirely  inde- 
pendently, and  never  has  had  any  ambition  or  desire  for  political 
office. 

Mr.  Garrity  has  not,  to  any  great  extent,  associated  with  clubs 
or  societies,  for,  as  he  says,  his  home  at  409  Dearborn  Avenue  is  his 
club,  and  in  his  family  circle  and  the  entertainment  of  his  many 
warm  friends  he  finds  his  chief  delight  and  happiness. 

In  a  great  many  respects  Mr.  Garrity  has  shown  himself  a  man 
of  very  exceptional  abilities,  and  even  this  necessarily  brief  sketch 
is  sufficient  to  show  that  nothing  has  daunted  or  discouraged  him, 
that  difficulties  seem  only  to  have  strengthened  him  both  in  pur- 
pose and  a,ction,  and  that  he  has  striven  on  until  he  has  at  last  ob- 
tained the  summit  of  his  ambition,  in  being  surrounded  by  a  dutiful 
and  happy  family  and  with  ample  means  to  make  them  comfortable. 
Hale  in  health,  active  in  habits  and  peculiarly  happy  in  his  disposi- 
tion, it  is  difficult  for  those  who  do  not  know  him  and  his  career  to 
imagine  the  vicissitudes  and  many  set  backs  that  he  has  in  the  past 
contended  with. 


THOMAS   MULVIHILL. 

Thomas  Mulvihill  was  born  in  the  County  of  Longford,  Ireland, 
at  a  town  called  Lanesborough,  June  4th,  1847.  He  is  of  good  fam- 
ily, for  his  ancestors  have  all  been  noted  men  of  their  time  and 
have  helped  to  make  their  country's  history.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  well  worthy  of  such  descent  and  when  still  very  young 
had  already  taken  a  strong  part.  His  great-grandfather,  a  lieu- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  413 

tenant  in  the  Longford  Militia,  is  well  remembered  in  Ireland  as 
having  gone  over  to  the  so-called  rebels  in  the  troubles  of  1798  and 
met  his  death  at  the  battle  of  Ballinmuck.  His  son  was  a  very 
prominent  contractor  and  builder,  the  owner  of  extensive  stone 
quarries  at  Lanesborough,  and  doing  a  great  deal  of  building  in 
the  City  of  Dublin.  His  son  Mathew,  the  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  a  leading  business  man  of  his  section  of  the  coun- 
try. He  married  Helen  Faucett,  a  native  of  Ennischroun,  County 
Sligo,  a  noted  Irish  watering  place.  She  was  a  Protestant  and  an 
heiress  and  the  match  was  a  runaway  one.  One  of  her  cousins  was 
adjutant  of  the  Sligo  Militia,  while  another  was  a  noted  doctor  of 
Ballina  Tyrawley.  She  never  left  Ireland,  dying  there  in  1852,  and 
her  husband  followed  her  in  1864. 

Thomas  Mulvihill  for  a  short,  period  attended  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  town,  but  being  extremely  ambitious,  even  at  the  early 
age  of  thirteen,  concluded  to  go  out  into  the  world  and  carve  out 
his  destiny.  He  began  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  stone  cutter,  at  which 
business  he  worked  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  de 
termined  to  visit  the  New  World.  He  landed  at  New  York  in  1862 
and  secured  employment  at  his  trade  in  Brooklyn,  where  he  worked 
until  1866,  then  returning  to  Ireland  to  take  his  part  with  the  Feni- 
ans in  the  uprising  of  that  year.  He  had  been  very  active  with  that 
organization  since  his  youth  and  previous  to  leaving  Ireland  had 
suffered  arrest  and  had  only  been  released  when  he  had  served  three 
months  and  nine  days.  At  the  contemplated  taking  of  Chester 
Castle  in  1867,  he  left  Bradford,  Yorkshire,  with  a  number  of  oth- 
ers to  take  part  in  said  raid  on  Chester  Castle,  their  purpose  being 
to  seize  100,000  stand  of  arms  and  one  million  rounds  of  ammuni- 
tion stored  at  Chester  Castle.  The  plan  was  to  overpower  the 
guards  at  the  Castle,  seize  the  railroad  train  at  Chester,  load  there- 
on the  arms  and  ammunition,  go  to  Holyhead  where  two  thousand 
men  were  in  readiness  to  take  the  arms,  and  at  once  take  posses- 


414  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

sion  of  the  government  steamers,  sail  to  Ireland,  where  the  revolt 
would  be  started.  Mr.  Mnlvihill  had  charge  of  the  party  whose 
duty  it  was  to  cut  the  telegraph  lines  between  Chester  and  Holy- 
head,  thus  severing  communication  between  the  two  places.  The 
plans  were  well  laid  and  would  undoubtedly  have  prospered  but 
for  the  informer,  Coryden,  who  gave  notice  to  the  government  of 
the  conspirators'  plans.  Consequently  when  they  arrived  at  Ches- 
ter they  found  the  place  so  well  guarded  and  prepared  that  they 
had  to  abandon  the  enterprise.  Mr.  Mulvihill,  with  about  sixty 
others,  determined  to  get  to  Dublin  and  join  O'Connor  in  the  Kerry 
Mountains.  When  they  arrived  at  Dublin  all  were  arrested,  but 
as  nothing  was  found  on  any  of  them  that  could  be  used  as  evi- 
dence they  were  released  after  being  held  for  forty-eight  hours. 

Mr.  Mulvihill  returned  to  the  United  States  in  1867  and  at  once 
came  to  Chicago,  arriving  in  this  city  September  5th,  1867.  He  re- 
sumed his  trade  until  November  of  the  same  year,  when  he  went  to 
Lincoln,  Neb.,  to  work  on  the  State  House,  then  being  erected 
there.  A  year  later  he  found  employment  on  the  State  University 
and  Agricultural  College  and  then  decided  to  start  in  business  for 
himself  by  taking  a  contract  to  do  the  cut  stone  work  on  the  State 
Lunatic  Asylum. 

In  1870  he  determined  to  open  up  a  stone  yard.  Later  he  organ- 
ized the  Fire  Department  for  the  City  of  Lincoln,  being  appointed 
First  Assistant  Chief,  and  when  he  left  the  city  in  1872  to  return 
to  Chicago,  a  silver  trumpet,  belt  and  hat  were  presented  to  him 
by  the  Mayor  and  City  Council  of  that  town  to  show  their  apprecia- 
tion of  his  work.  They  also  presented  him  with  a  set  of  resolu- 
tions thanking  him  for  his  efficiency  while  in  office. 

Upon  Mr.  Mulvihill's  arrival  in  Chicago,  he  at  once  set  to  work 
at  his  old  trade,  obtaining  employment  on  the  Chicago  postoffice 
from  the  time  it  was  commenced  until  it  was  finished,  and  for  two 
years  was  also  Recording  Secretary  of  the  Stone  Cutters'  Union. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  415 

About  this  time,  work  being  very  scarce,  he  secured  an  appoint- 
ment on  the  South  Park  Police  and  retained  the  same  for  three 
years,  resigning  to  take  a  clerkship  in  the  office  of  M.  W.  Ryan, 
County  Clerk,  where  he  remained  for  four  years.  Then,  with  Capt. 
Dan  Gleason,  he  bid  on  and  was  awarded  a  contract  on  the  Lake 
View  sewerage  system,  but  on  account  of  financial  reasons,  he  was 
compelled  to  assign  his  share  to  his  partner  and  retire.  Mr.  Mul- 
vihill  was  then  appointed  General  Street  Inspector  for  Hyde  Park 
(this  was  before  the  annexation),  and  after  that  event  he  kept  the 
position  under  the  administration  of  Mayor  Cregier,  and  later  was 
superintendent  for  Dolese  &  Shepard,  the  street  contractors,  for 
two  years.  On  the  election  of  the  late  Carter  Harrison  as  Mayor, 
in  1893,  he  was  reappointed  Street  Inspector  for  Hyde  Park,  and 
the  position  was  retained  under  Mayor  Hopkins.  When  the  latter 
retired,  Mr.  Mulvihill  was  appointed  Deputy  Sheriff  and  Court  Bail- 
iff, which  position  he  continues  to  hold. 

In  18G7  he  was  married  to  Kate  Brennan,  of  Tipperary,  Ireland, 
who  came  to  this  country  to  join  him.  They  have  had  nine  chil- 
dren, but  of  these  only  three  are  living. 

Mr.  Mulvihill  assisted  in  organizing  and  was  First  Sergeant  of 
the  Clan-Na-Gael  Guards,  when  many  of  the  most  prominent  Irish- 
men in  the  city  were  serving  as  privates.  He  belongs  to  the  Cath- 
olic Order  of  Foresters,  of  which  he  was  Chief  Ranger  for  five  years 
and  is  now  Deputy  High  Chief  Ranger  for  several  courts  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  city  and  Past  Chief  Ranger.  In  his  political 
views  Mr.  Mulvihill  is  a  Democrat,  and  in  his  religion  is  a  Roman 
Catholic  and  a  member  of  St.  Thomas'  Church,  in  which  choir  he 
sang  for  many  years. 

As  true  to  the  country  of  his  adoption  as  to  the  laud  of  his  fore- 
fathers, Thomas  Mulvihill  after  an  eventful  career  is  enjoying  the 
calm  life  of  free  America,  happy  in  the  devoted  esteem  of  a  host 
of  true-hearted  friends. 


416  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 


THOMAS  S.  HOGAN. 

Thomas  S.  Hogan  is  a  native  of  Chicago,  and  may  well  be  proud 
of  the  fact,  as  he  certainly  possesses  in  a  very  marked  degree  that 
persistent  energy  which  animates  the  metropolis  of  the  West. 

It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  of  many  lawyers  practicing  at  the 
Chicago  bar,  not  one  is  more  generally  known  or  better  liked  than 
Thomas  S.  Hogan.  Nor  is  the  popularity  he  enjoys  of  the  super- 
ficial or  ephemeral  order.  It  is  the  result  of  more  than  ten  years' 
social  and  professional  establishment  in  Chicago.  During  this 
time  he  has  made  hosts  of  friends  in  the  community  generally,  and 
something  more  rare,  with  men  in  active  practice,  also  among  his 
brethren  of  the  law.  This  latter  distinction,  the  respect  and  liking 
of  those  of  his  own  avocation,  is  something  of  which  any  profes- 
sional man  may  well  be  proud,  and  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Hogan  it  has 
contributed  in  a  considerable  degree  to  creating  the  enviable 
position  he  has  achieved  at  the  Chicago  bar.  If  there  be  in  fact 
anything  like  the  influence,  claimed  within  the  theory  of  hereditary 
mental  tendencies,  its  logical  result  would  have  led  Mr.  Hogan 
to  select  the  law  as  his  life  profession.  His  success  in  this  direction 
conclusively  proves  that  in  him  personal  characteristics,  tempera- 
ment, mental  qualities  and  literary  training  combined  to  make  the 
study  and  practice  of  law  a  congenial  pursuit.  A  lawyer,  Thomas 
S.  Hogan  is  the  sou  of  a  distinguished  member  of  the  profession, 
and  thus  comes  quite  naturally  by  his  preference  and  capacity  for 
a  forensic  career.  His  father  is  M.  W.  Hogan,  a  well-known  lawyer, 
who  was  admitted  to  practice  in  Illinois  as  long  ago  as  1855,  and 
who  is  an  old  and  highly  respected  resident  of  Chicago.  This  Mr. 
M.  W.  Hogan  served  as  State's  Attorney  for  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 


^r    Jl 

r      m 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  419 

for  twelve  years,  receiving  the  signal  and  unusual  honor  of  an  elec- 
tion to  that  responsible  office  for  three  consecutive  terms,  a  fact 
which  in  itself  sufficiently  attests  to  his  high  professional  standing 
and  personal  popularity. 

The  early  literary  and  legal  education  of  Mr.  Hogan  may  be  said 
to  have  been  acquired  wholly  in  St.  Louis.  It  commenced  with 
the  training  at  the  Christian  Brothers'  Academy,  continued 
throughout  the  full  curriculum  of  study  at  St.  Louis  University, 
terminating  with  graduation  at  the  St.  Louis  Law  School.  The 
academic  and  collegiate  course  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  com- 
pleted, the  study  of  law  was  taken  up  in  his  father's  office.  His  legal 
studies  were  pursued  in  the  office  of  ex-Governor  Thomas  C.  Rey- 
nolds of  Missouri,  and  in  that  of  the  Hon.  Irwin  Z.  Smith,  re- 
nowned as  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  in  the  West.  Undoubtedly 
the  knowledge  and  experience  acquired  in  such  associa- 
tions and  surroundings,  and  the  familiarity  with  procedure 
and  practice  in  important  cases  which  he  was  thus  enabled  to  gain, 
was  of  inestimable  advantage  to  the  young  lawyer,  and  Mr.  Hogan 
soon  took  such  rank  at  the  bar  and  in  the  active  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession as  is  rarely  the  good  fortune  of  its  junior  members.  The 
opportunities  and  associations  of  this  period  of  his  life  likewise  did 
much  to  develop  and  mould  a  well  grounded  literary  taste,  which 
subsequently  resulted  in  the  collection  of  one  of  the  finest,  because 
one  of  the  most  carefully  and  best  assorted,  private  libraries  in  the 
West.  Pleasant  and  profitable  as  were  his  St.  Louis  days,  Chicago 
practice  was  the  wider  and  fuller  arena  destined  for  the  full  frui- 
tion of  Mr.  Hogan's  professional  effort.  In  1886  he  removed  to  this 
city,  and  a  co-partnership  was  formed  with  another  well  known 
lawyer,  the  Hon.  Theodore  G.  Case,  under  the  firm  name  and  style 
of  Case  &  Hogan. 

The  practice  of  this  firm  within  the  last  ten  years  has  grown  to 
be  something  exceptionally  large,  and  it  is  known  in  the  legal  pro- 


420  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

fession  generally  as  one  of  the  busiest  in  Chicago.  Its  members 
have  been  identified  with  the  conduct  and  trial,  in  both  state  and 
federal  courts,  of  some  of  the  most  notable  cases  in  the  country, 
and  thus  have  not  only  won  recognition  as  able  lawyers  in  Illinois, 
but  also  a  national  reputation . 

The  personality  of  Mr.  Hogaii  is  striking  and  of  a  character  to 
attract  and  fix  the  attention,  more  especially  this  being  the  case  in 
a  court  room,  for  when  engaged  in  the  trial  of  a  case  he  is  invari- 
ably a  conspicuous  figure.  In  height  and  general  physique  he  is 
above  the  average,  his  sturdy  shoulders  support  a  massive  head 
with  classic,  mobile  features,  and  he  is  fortunate  in  the  possession 
of  an  unusually  clear  and  resonant  voice.  The  excellence  of  his 
public  reading  was  recognized  early  in  his  career  by  his  election  as 
reading  clerk  to  the  Thirty-third  General  Assembly  of  Missouri,  in 
fact,  that  position  was  specially  created  for  him,  and  at  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  of  office  he  received  from  the  legislature  a  unani- 
mous vote  of  thanks  for  the  efficiency  of  his  services.  It  is,  how- 
ever, in  the  hotly  contested  trial  of  a  cause  that  Mr.  Hogan  is  seen  at 
his  best,  for  here  his  marked  oratorical  ability  gives  him  a  decided 
advantage  over  many  of  his  colleagues  at  the  bar.  Forcible  and 
impressive  as  a  speaker,  he  carries  from  first  to  last  the  unbroken 
attention  of  his  jury.  Nor  is  it  only  at  the  bar  that  this  power  and 
facility  for  public  speaking  has  stood  Mr.  Hogan  in  good  stead,  for 
in  addition,  he  is  one  of  the  most  apt  and  best  known  impromptu 
after-dinner  speakers  in  Chicago. 

As  might  be  expected  in  a  man  of  this  description,  our  subject 
is  a  favorite  socially,  and  is  an  active  member  of  the  best  clubs  and 
organizations.  In  the  amenities  of  social  entertainment  he  finds 
opportunity  for  the  exercise  of  a  fund  of  good  fellowship,  enriched, 
as  it  is,  by  interesting  personal  reminiscences  of  incident  and 
travel,  for  Mr.  Hogan  has  traveled  extensively,  both  in  America 
and  Europe.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Chicago  Athletic  Association, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  421 

the  Columbus  Club,  an  honorary  member  of  influential  clubs  in  the 
East,  and  a  prominent  and  active  member  of  Chicago  Lodge  Benev- 
olent and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  A  reference  to  his  personal 
character  would  be  incomplete  without  a  suggestion  of  that  uni- 
form spirit  of  kindliness  and  prompt,  practical  generosity,  which 
characterizes  him  in  his  relations  with  the  fraternal  societies,  and, 
indeed,  in  whatsoever  direction  its  modest  and  unassuming  exercise 
can  be  of  use  to  others.  Mr.  Hogau  is  unmarried  and  resides  with 
members  of  his  family  in  this  city. 


JOSEPH    ANDREW  McCORMICK. 


Fire  Brigade  Captain  Joseph  Andrew  McCormick  was  born  in 
Chicago,  at  Cass  and  Chicago  Avenue,  on  March  19th,  1865.  He  is 
the  son  of  John  McCormick,  who  came  to  Chicago  from  Ireland  in 
184(5,  was  an  old-time  volunteer  fireman  of  the  city  and  died  in  1885. 
He  had  married  Sarah  Toner,  whose  father  was  one  of  the  original 
members  of  the  Order  of  Hibernians. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  Chicago  public  schools 
until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  began  to  learn  the  paint- 
er's trade,  at  which  he  worked  until  1885,  when  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Chicago  Fire  Department. 

His  first  assignment  was  to  Chemical  Engine  No.  2,  and  from 
there  he  was  transferred  to  No.  1,  No.  32,  and  No.  4.  He  became 
Lieutenant,  December  31st,  1889,  and  was  sent  to  Engine  No.  22, 
at  Webster  Avenue  and  Larrabee  Street,  where  he  remained  a 
year  and  a  half  and  was  then  sent  to  No.  27.  He  was  promoted, 


422  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

April  15th,  1893,  to  be  Captain  of  Engine  No.  9,  at  Cottage  Grove 
Avenue  and  Twenty-fifth  Street,  but  after  a  short  stay  of  four 
months  he  was  transferred  to  No.  33,  and  there  remained  three 
years,  when  he  was  changed  to  No.  44,  at  77  Illinois  Street,  where 
he  still  remains. 

He  was  married  to  Barbara  Wiendbiel,  of  Chicago,  October  4th, 
1886,  and  they  have  had  five  children,  of  whom  three  are  living. 

Captain  McCormick  bears  the  reputation  of  a  most  efficient  offi- 
cer, and  has  several  times  been  mentioned  in  general  orders  for 
bravery,  and  aJso  on  one  occasion  for  stopping,  at  the  risk  of  his 
life,  a  runaway  horse.  Strictly  observant  of  every  duty,  he  has 
gained  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the  whole  department  and  also 
of  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 


DR.  GEORGE   WILLIAM  MAHONEY. 


The  achievement  of  such  a  position  as  Dr.  Mahoney  has  attained 
in  the  medical  circles  of  this  city  while  still  so  young  in  years  is 
typical  of  American  grit  and  the  true  Western  spirit  of  enter- 
prise. His  remarkable  capabilities  in  the  two  special  departments 
of  medical  science  he  has  taken  up  have  already  attracted  to  him  a 
wide  and  influential  clientele,  which,  as  day  after  day  passes  by, 
is  increasing  in  size. 

Dr.  Mahoney  was  born  at  Lawton,  Michigan.  His  father, 
Michael,  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  was  born  in  County  Clare,  1836. 
With  his  parents  he  came  to  America  in  1853,  locating  in  Kala- 
mazoo,  Michigan.  In  1857  he  married  Honoria  Marie  Davis,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Davis  of  Limerick,  Ireland.  Miss  Davis  was  born 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  423 

iu  1839;  she  was  given  superior  educational  advantages  in  school, 
at  home  and  under  private  instruction,  and  later  in  life  took  special 
pride  and  exerted  every  beneficial  influence  in  the  early  training 
of  her  children;  a  happy  home  was  broken  by  her  death  in  1878 
at  Decatur,  Michigan,  where  Michael  Mahoney  still  resides.  They 
had  seven  children,  but  only  three  are  living,  the  eldest  of  whom  is 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Of  the  two  other  brothers,  Henry  resides 
at  Decatur,  Michigan,  while  Kit-hard  is  connected  with  one  of  the 
newspapers  at  Kalamazoo. 

George  W.  Mahoney  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and 
the  study  of  medicine  having  always  been  to  him  an  absorbing  one, 
iu  1885  he  entered  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of 
Michigan.  After  a  two  years'  course,  he  entered  the  Bellevue  Col- 
lege Medical  Hospital,  New  York,  graduating  there  the  following 
year,  1888. 

While  in  New  York  he  devoted  considerable  time  to  the  study 
of  the  eye  and  ear  under  Professor  Noyes,  and  always  afterwards 
in  general  private  practice  that  branch  had  for  him  a  fascination. 
He  began  his  medical  practice  at  Decatur,  where  he  remained  five 
years.  In  1893  he  removed  to  Chicago  and  became  a  specialist  for 
the  eye  and  ear,  to  which  since  he  has  given  his  exclusive  attention. 

Dr.  Mahoney  became  a.  member  of  the  Chicago  Ophthalmological 
Society  in  1894  and  holds  the  position  of  instructor  of  Ophthalmol- 
ogy at  the  Chicago  Polyclinic  and  lectures  on  the  refraction  of  the 
eye.  He  has  also  given  much  time  to  muscular  defects  of  the  eye 
and  is  a  recognized  authority  on  that  work.  His  offices,  are  located 
in  the  Venetian  Building,  where  from  eleven  o'clock  until  three 
o'clock,  daily,  the  demands  upon  his  time  by  a,  large  clientage 
make  him  one  of  the  busy  men  of  his  profession. 

Dr.  Mahoney  has  been  a  member  of  the  Michigan  State  Medical 
Society  since  1889  and  of  the  American  Medical  Association  since 
1893.  He  holds  the  position  of  Surgeon,  with  rank  of  Captain,  in 


424  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  Seventh  Regiment,  Illinois  National  Guards,  under  Colonel 
Marcus  Kavanagh,  Jr.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Columbus  Club  of 
Chicago. 

The  Doctor  is  contemplating  a  trip  abroad  in  the  interest  of  his 
studies  and  will  visit  the  leading  hospitals  of  London,  Dublin, 
Paris,  Vienna,  Berlin,  etc.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church, 
residing  in  the  Cathedral  Parish. 

Dr.  Mahoney  is  still  a  young  man  with  many  years  before  him— 
let  ITS  hope  with  years  of  profit  to  himself  as  well  as  years  in  which 
to  be  of  service  to  his  fellow-men.  No  higher  incentive  to  duty 
can  any  man  have  than  that  he  is  living  a  useful  life,  and  that  Dr. 
Mahoney  beyond  all  question  has.  Possessed  of  good  sound  judg- 
ment, energetic  and  pushing,  his  success  has  been  almost  a  fore- 
gone conclusion.  Affable  and  courteous  in  manner,  a  deep  student, 
conscientious  and  straightforward  in  his  methods,  his  growing 
popularity  is  easily  accounted  for.  He  is  in  the  prime  and  vigor 
of  a  healthy  and  intellectual  manhood  and  with  his  natural  ability, 
has  acquired  knowledge  and  valuable  experience,  he  can  and  will 
yet  make  the  world  better  in  that  he  has  lived. 


JAMES   DENNIS   MORRISON. 


James  D.  Morrison,  president  of  Cook  County  Civil  Service  Com- 
mission, and  widely  known  in  connection  with  numerous  associa- 
tions and  as  an  active  Republican  and  successful  business  man,  was 
born  in  this  city,  April  7th,  1861.  His  father,  John  Cornelius  Mor- 
rison, is  a  native  of  Buffalo,  New  York,  where  he  was  born  in  1841, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  425 

but  came  to  Chicago  in  1856  and  since  that  time  has  been  a  resi- 
dent, occupying  himself  chiefly  in  the  stewardship  of  hotels.  In 
1860  he  married  Katharine  Ryan,  who,  when  quite  a  child,  had 
come  to  Chicago  from  Ireland. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  graduated  from  the  high  schools  of  Chicago,  commencing  when 
about  sixteen  years  of  age  his  business  career.  His  first  start  was 
in  the  fruit  business  on  South  Water  Street  with  the  firm  of  John 
W.  Manning.  Here  he  remained  ten  years,  and  since  that  time  has 
practically  been  in  business  for  himself.  The  first  partnership 
formed  was  that  of  Raggio  &  Morrison,  the  present  firm  of  Boland 
&  Morrison  succeeding  on  February  1st,  of  this  year  (1897).  The 
firm  has  been  successful  from  its  initiation  and  has  an  extensive 
and  growing  business.  As  before  intimated,  Mr.  Morrison  has 
found  time,  apart  from  his  a.ctive  business  interests,  to  occupy  him- 
self largely  in  public  affairs  and  in  matters  appertaining  to  the 
best  interests  of  the  community  in  which  he  lives.  Not  only  does 
he  hold  the  important  position  of  president  of  Cook  County  Civil 
Service  Commission,  but  he  has  also  been  active  as  a  Republican 
in  the  counsels  and  work  of  his  party,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Co- 
lumbus, the  Marquette,  and  the  Americns  Clubs,  of  the  Royal 
League,  the  Royal  Arcanum,  the  National  Union,  the  Catholic 
Benevolent  Legion,  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  and  also  of  the  Order 
of  Columbian  Knights. 

Mr.  Morrison  has  been  an  extensive  traveler  through  the  United 
States,  there  being  few  points  of  interest  he  has  not  visited,  from 
Maine  to  California.  In  regard  to  foreign  trips,  he  has  preferred, 
as  he  expresses  it,  to  make  himself  thoroughly  conversant  with 
the  beauties  and  wonders  of  his  native  land  before  sparing  the  time 
for  visiting  others. 

Mr.  Morrison  married,  February  2d,  1881,  Miss  Christina  Grant, 
of  Chicago,  and  they  have  five  children. 


426  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

Outside  of  his  business  and  public  life,  Mr.  Morrison  gives  what 
time  he  can  to  athletic  sports,  of  which  he  has  at  all  times  been 
extremely  fond.  Physically  he  is  a  man  of  good  constitution  and 
fine  presence,  of  genial  and  social  disposition,  yet  at  the  same  time 
of  forcible  and  energetic  character.  He  looks  the  successful  man 
that  he  is,  and,  it  need  hardly  be  said,  possesses  numerous  warm  and 
devoted  friends. 


DANIEL  CORKERY. 


Daniel  Corkery,  late  president  and  founder  of  the  Chicago  & 
Indiana  Coal  Co.,  was  born  in  Chicago,  February  26th,  1853,  and 
died,  to  the  universal  regret  of  an  immense  number  of  friends, 
when  comparatively  a  young  man,  June  25th,  1894.  His  parents 
were  both  born  at  historic  Blarney  Castle,  Ireland,  and  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1849,  settling  in  Chicago. 

Daniel  was  educated  at  St.  John's  school  and  in  the  public 
schools  of  this  city,  which  he  left  when  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
went  to  work  carrying  water  and  generally  helping  his  father, 
who  was  the  owner  of  several  teams.  When  about  nineteen,  he 
determined  to  do  some  work  on  his  own  account,  and,  having 
bought  a  coal  wagon,  made  his  first  venture  in  the  coal  business. 
At  about  the  age  of  twenty-six,  he  went  into  partnership  with  D. 
McGarry,  an  association  which  continued  for  two  years,  after 
which  Mr.  Corkery  started  by  himself  at  Twenty-sixth  Street  and 
Stewart  Avenue.  In  1892,  he  built  the  present  handsome  office 
building— Twenty-seventh  Street  and  Canal.  From  the  start  he 
was  successful,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  the  owner  of  and 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  429 

had  the  entire  superintendence  of  one  of  the  largest  businesses  in 
his  line  in  the  city.  Four  coal  mines  in  Indiana,  two  in  Brazil  and 
two  at  Mecca  were  his  individual  property.  At  his  death  he  left 
an  estate  valued  at  several  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

Mr.  Corkery  was  an  ardent  Democrat,  and  took  great  interest 
in  the  ward  organizations,  of  which  he  was  the  acknowledged 
leader.  He  was  also  largely  instrumental  in  building  up  the  Fifth 
Ward,  in  which  he  resided  for  the  greater  portion  of  his  life. 
Twice  he  visited  Europe;  the  first  time  with  a  party  of  friends,  and 
the  second  time  in  company  with  his  wife,  when,  having  covered 
France  and  Germany,  Ireland  was  made  their  longest  stopping 
place. 

Mr.  Corkery  was  married  December,  1878,  to  Mary  Austin, 
daughter  of  Lawrence  Austin  of  this  city,  and  qne  of  Chicago's 
earliest  settlers.  They  had  one  daughter,  who  died  when  three 
years  of  age. 

Mr.  Corkery  served  on  the  school  board  until  he  resigned  to 
accept  the  commissionership  of  elections,  being  the  first  to  fill  that 
position  in  Cook  County.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Sheridan  and 
Iroquois  Clubs,  and  organized  the  Jefferson  Club,  which  collapsed 
after  his  death. 

As  may  be  judged  from  his  rapid  and  invariable  success,  Mr. 
Corkery  was  of  a  nature  both  industrious  and  enterprising,  and 
possessed  of  business  and  executive  ability  of  the  highest  order. 
He  was  of  a  warm  social  character,  fond  of  home  and  domestic 
life,  though,  as  has  been  mentioned,  taking  a  great  interest  in  local 
and  general  politics.  To  Mrs.  Corkery,  who  survives  him,  and 
who  possesses  an  active  interest  in  the  business,  and  whose  cour- 
teous, kindly  and  unassuming  manner  are  united  to  great  execu- 
tive talents,  the  late  Mr.  Corkery  unquestionably  owed  much  of 
his  success  in  life.  Mrs.  Corkery  is  president  of  the  Woman's 
Catholic  League. 


430  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 


JAMES   J.  MULLEN. 

Among  the  representative  men  of  Chicago  whose  position  is  due 
solely  to  their  own  efforts,  there  is  none  who  deserves  more  honor- 
able mention  than  James  J.  Mullen,  president  of  the  Mullen  Brew- 
ing Company.  Born  in  Chicago,  October  28th,  1855,  his  parents 
were  Peter  and  Ann  (Murphy)  Mullen.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Wicklow,  Ireland,  who,  having  taken  a  prominent  part  in  the 
troubles  of  1848,  came  to  Chicago  in  that  year.  He  took  up  the  oc- 
cupation of  a  blacksmith  and  wagon  builder,  and  for  years  operated 
a  shop  on  the  west  side,  also  taking  an  active  part  in  Irish  affairs 
until  his  death  in  1869.  Peter  Mullen  married  Ann  Murphy,  who 
came  of  a  well  known  County  Carlow  family,  her  parents  leaving 
Ireland  in  1850.  They  settled  first  in  the  East  and  later  moved  west 
to  Chicago,  where  her  brothe.rs  are  now  prominent  and  own  consid- 
erable property  near  Harrison  Street  and  Blue  Island  Avenue.  She 
died  in  the  year  1859. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  Chicago  public  schools 
in  his  youth,  being  compelled,  however,  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  to  set 
about  earning  his  own  living.  His  first  occupation  was  that  of  a 
truck  driver  for  the  firm  of  Wm.  A.  Butters  &  Co.,  auctioneers  and 
commission  merchants,  and  here  he  remained  for  nine  years  and 
until  1878,  when  he  became  a  porter  with  the  furniture  house  of 
Alexander  H.  Revell  &  Co.,  at  that  time  quite  a  small  concern.  In 
this  employ  he  was  for  twelve  years,  during  which  time  his  ability 
was  recognized  and  he  received  promotion  from  time  to  time  until 
when  he  left  he  was  manager  of  the  establishment  and  had  been 
given  an  interest  in  the  business.  July  1st,  1890,  Mr.  Mullen  asso- 
ciated himself  with  the  Merle  &  Heaney  Manufacturing  Co.,  makers 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  431 

of  furniture,  aiid  became  secretary  of  the  company.  Here  he  was 
again  successful,  retiring  in  January,  1894. 

So  long  an  active  business  man,  it  was  impossible  for  Mr.  Mul- 
len to  remain  idle,  and  twelve  months  later  he  purchased  the  plant 
of  the  Vogt  &  Sweeney  Brewery  on  Twenty-sixth  Street.  This,  ow- 
ing to  poor  management,  had  been  permitted  to  run  down  consid- 
erably until  there  was  but  a  single  customer  on  the  books,  and  the 
concern  was  consequently  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  receiver  and  sold 
by  order  of  court.  During  Mr.  Mullen's  association  with  the  Merle 
&  Ileaney  Co.,  he  had  been  closely  connected  with  brewers  and  sa- 
loon men,  and  the  experience  he  had  gained  enabled  him  to  quick- 
ly grasp  the  situation  and,  as  a  result,  to  soon  place  his  new  ven- 
ture on  a  paying  basis,  so  much  so  that  to-day  it  is  one  of  the  best 
paying  plants  in  the  city.  The  sole  credit  for  this  is  due  to  Mr. 
Mullen,  who,  unaided,  carried  through  the  venture  and  by  his 
individual  energy  and  attention  to  all  the  details  has  made  the 
business  what  it  is. 

Mr.  Mullen,  while  of  a  very  modest  and  retiring  disposition,  is 
still  extremely  congenial  and  companionable,  finding  time  to  be- 
long to  the  Columbus  and  Sheridan  Clubs,  the  Royal  League,  and 
the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters.  He  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and 
is  a  member  of  the  congregation  of  St.  James'  Church,  while  in 
politics  he  has  always  been  a  Democrat. 

Mr.  Mullen  married  Norah  Kelly,  daughter  of  Captain  William 
Kelly,  a  well  known  lake  captain,  and  they  have  been  blessed  with 
a  family  consisting  of  four  girls  and  a  boy.  Mr.  Mullen  has  a  pleas- 
ant home  at  3208  Calumet  Avenue,  where  he  and  his  charming  wife 
dispense  hospitalities  to  their  numerous  friends.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mullen  are  both  fond  of  traveling  and  have  visited  all  the  leading 
sections  of  the  United  States. 

As  a  citizen  Mr.  Mullen  lends  his  influence  to  all  matters  per- 
taining to  the  welfare  of  his  city  and  the  community.  He  contrib- 


432  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

utes  to  charity  as  far  as  his  means  will  allow,  is  always  ready  to 
help  the  unfortunate,  and  in  all  his  relations  bears  himself  as  an 
earnest,  large-hearted  and  conscientious  gentleman,  who  esteems  it 
a  privilege,  as  he  counts  it  a  duty  to  do  the  most  good  in  the  best 
way  to  the  greatest  number  of  persons. 

Gifted  in  a  rare  degree  with  energy,  determination  and  ambi- 
tion, of  powerful  will  and  splendid  health,  every  qualification  has 
been  used  to  the  best  advantage,  and  he  is  to-day  in  the  enjoyment 
of  a  well  earned  and  richly  deserved  competence,  in  addition  to 
the  confidence,  respect  and  esteem  of  all  his  fellow  citizens. 


PATRICK  MCGARRY. 


Patrick  McGarry  was  born  in  Ireland,  July  2d,  1845,  the  son  of 
John  McGarry,  prominently  connected  with  the  troubles  of  1845, 
and  who  died  in  1878.  His  father  was  one  of  the  leaders  of  the 
Irish  rebellion  in  1798,  and  suffered  the  punishment  of  a  public 
whipping  in  the  corn  market  at  Belfast,  and  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  when  a  young  man,  recalls  having  his  hands  placed  on  the 
scars  on  his  grandfather's  back  and  being  asked  to  promise  he 
would  strike  a  blow  for  Ireland  for  each  one  of  them.  With  such 
bringing  up,  breathing  into  his  very  life  a  hatred  of  the  English 
oppression,  it  is  little  wonder  that  the  youthful  Patrick  grew  up 
with  full  determination  that  Ireland  must  be  free.  John  McGarry 
had  married  Mary  Murray,  of  Cookstown,  County  Tyrone,  Ireland, 
a  member  also  of  a  family  noted  for  its  patriotism.  In  1883  she 
came  to  this  country  on  a  visit  for  several  months,  and  now  well 
over  eighty,  is  living  in  the  old  land  across  the  seas. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  433 

Patrick  McGarry  received  his  education  in  a  Church  of  Eng- 
land school  at  Belfast,  and  after  six  years  left,  at  the  age  of  eleven. 
It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  note  that  Joseph  G.  Biggar,  later  famous  in 
the  English  House  of  Commons,  was  his  monitor,  and  from  him 
young  Patrick  received  his  first  lessons. 

Schooling  over,  he  went  to  work  in  the  linen  warehouse  of  Jo- 
seph McGill,  at  that  time  the  largest  in  Belfast.  Having  spent 
eighteen  months  in  this  business,  he  came  to  the  conclusion  that  a 
life  on  the  ocean  would  be  more  to  his  liking,  and  went  into  the 
Queen's  Island  ship  yard,  where  he  was  the  first  Roman  Catholic 
to  learn  the  trade  of  boiler  making  and  iron  ship  building.  Having 
served  his  five  years  there,  he  traveled  through  the  three  kingdoms, 
working  at  his  trade,  and  also  made  a  few  trips  on  the  ocean  as 
boiler  make]1,  sailing  for  New  York  in  the  month  of  July,  1871.  He 
remained  in  the  latter  city  for  a  few  months,  working  at  the  Stime 
occupation,  and  then  came  to  Chicago,  where  he  arrived  just  six 
mouths  before  the  fire.  In  Chicago  he  followed  his  trade,  from  1873 
to  1889,  excepting  an  interval  in  1875,  during  which  he  visited  Ire- 
land. On  January  15th,  1889,  Mr.  McGarry  formed  a  partnership 
with  Snider,  Leonard  &  McCarrin,  and  the  Union  Steam  Boiler 
Works  was  started,  continuing  until  January  1st,  1890,  when  the 
firm  of  McGarry  &  Dunne  was  organized  and  business  done  until 
March,  1895,  when  the  firm  was  dissolved,  Mr.  McGarry  taking  sole 
charge. 

Mr.  McGarry  from  his  early  youth  has  taken  a  great  interest 
in  Irish  affairs;  in  1863,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  joined  the  Irish 
Republican  Brotherhood.  Mr.  McGarry  may  also  claim  the  honor 
of  launching  the  late  Joseph  Biggar,  M.  P.,  into  the  political  world. 
It  was  in  this  way:  In  1864  the  corner  stone  of  the  O'Connell  monu- 
ment at  Dublin  was  being  laid,  an  excursion  from  Belfast  was  at- 
tacked in  that  city  by  Orangemen  and  considerable  trouble  arose 
between  the  Orangemen  employed  on  Queen's  Island,  of  whom 


434  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP    THE 

there  were  some  four  thousand,  and  about  two  hundred  Roman 
Catholics  at  that  time  employed  in  building  new  docks.  Several 
of  the  latter  were  driven  into  the  sea  and  many  wounded,  it  being 
supposed  that  the  Catholics  were  giving  information  to  the  au- 
thorities; the  Orangemen  struck,  demanding  that  all  Catholics  em- 
ployed in  the  Queen's  Island  ship  yard  quit  the  works.  The  strike 
having  continued  two  weeks,  the  business  men  of  Belfast  tried  to 
settle  the  difficulty  by  arbitration,  and  this  was  finally  agreed  to, 
two  men  being  appointed  to  represent  each  side.  Mr.  McGarry,  who 
was  even  then  recognized  as  a  leader  among  the  Catholics,  sug- 
gested for  the  Catholic  representatives  the  name  of  A.  J.  McKenna, 
at  that  time  editor  of  the  Irish  National  paper,  "The  Northern 
Star,"  and1  Joseph  G.  Biggar,  an  obscure  pork  merchant,  this  being 
the  latter's  first  entrance  into  publicity.  A  settlement  was  finally 
made,  the  Orangemen  agreeing  to  return  to  work  if  the  Catholics 
would  give  no  more  information  concerning  the  rioters.  So  pleased 
were  the  Nationalists  of  Belfast  at  the  way  Mr.  Biggar  handled  the 
question,  that  they  elected  him  Councilman  from  Smithfield  Ward, 
Belfast,  and  shortly  afterwards  he  was  elected  Member  of  Parlia- 
ment from  County  Cavan,  became  Parnell's  Chief  Lieutenant,  the 
leader  of  obstruction  in  the  House,  and  possibly  the  most  hated 
Irishman  who  ever  took  his  place  in  Parliament. 

Mr.  McGarry  joined  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians  in  1881, 
and  has  been  president  of  a  division  and  also  State  delegate  of  Illi- 
nois. In  1894  he  was  elected  at  the  New  York  convention  National 
Secretary,  was  re-elected  in  1895,  and  in  1896  became  National 
Delegate.  He  was  also  elected  delegate  to  attend  the  Irish  Race 
Convention,  held  at  Dublin,  Ireland,  September  1st,  2d,  and  3d, 
1896,  but  by  reason  of  important  business  matters  at  the  last  mo- 
ment he  was  compelled  to  forego.  He  joined  the  Clan-Na-Gael  in 
1885  and  is  still  an  active  member  of  that  organization,  in  the 
working  of  which  he  has  always  taken  an  active  part. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN   CHICAGO.  435 

Mr.  McGarry  was  married,  April  28th,  1874,  to  Miss  Augusta 
A.  Beckley,  of  Logansport,  Iml.,  ami  the  union  has  resulted  in  seven 
children,  of  whom  all  with  the  exception  of  one  are  living. 

In  politics  he  is  entirely  independent,  believing  in  so  voting  as 
will  do  the  greatest  good  for  the  greatest  number.  He  is  a  Roman 
Catholic  and  a  regular  attendant  at  the  Church  of  St.  Vincent  de 
Paul. 

While  his  life  in  this  country  has  been  possibly  of  a  more  peace- 
able character  than  his  early  bringing  up  may  have  led  him  to  de- 
sire, his  faith  in  the  old  land  has  never  wavered,  nor  his  earnest 
hope  that  it  may  be  his  fortune  to  see  Ireland  taking  her  proper 
place  among  the  nations  of  the  earth.  Honored  and  respected,  he 
has  made  for  himself  hosts  of  friends  in  this  city,  and  by  his  per- 
sonal worth  has  gained  a  high  place  in  the  list  of  Chicago's  Amer- 
ican Irish. 


DANIEL  J.  GALLERY. 


Daniel  J.  Gallery  was  born  at  Euuislione,  County  Clare,  Ireland, 
December  26th,  1888.  Having  received  his  education  in  the  old 
country,  he  came  to  America  in  1856,  moving  on  to  Chicago.  His 
first  employment  was  for  Squire  Tom  Dingee,  at  Evanston,  and  he 
then  started  business  in  Chicago  as  a  teamster.  When  the  war 
broke  out  he  went  to  Memphis,  continuing  iu  the  same  business 
until  the  war  closed.  His  remuneration  was  one  out  of  every  three 
bales  of  cotton  for  hauling  the  same.  The  war  closed,  he  returned 
to  this  city  and  soon  founded  the  Gallery  Transfer  Company.  For- 
tune favored  his  efforts,  and  having,  in  1885,  taken  his  son,  Daniel 


436  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

V.,  into  the  business,  be  gave  him  full  charge.  Mr.  D.  J.  Gallery 
retired  in  1891,  and  has  since  enjoyed  the  reward  of  his  successful 
industry. 

He  had  married  in  Chicago,  in  1850,  Mary  A.  Daley,  and  they 
have  six  children — Rebecca  A.,  Dan.  V.,  a  successful  young  lawyer; 
John  J.,  Martha  R.,  Allison,  and  William  F. 

Mr.  Daniel  J.  Gallery  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  in  politics  be- 
longs to  the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
League,  an  honorary  member  of  the  Young  Men's  Institute,  and 
since  1856  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trade.  Mr.  Gallery  is  also  an 
extensive  traveler,  being  well  acquainted  with  the  United  States, 
and  has  on  several  occasions  visited  Europe. 


PATRICK   DIGNAN. 


This  popular  aud  highly  respected  Counaught  Irishman  was 
born  on  St.  Patrick's  day,  1847,  in  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  in  which 
country  his  parents,  Robert  L.  and  Kate  (Burke)  Diguan,  lived  and 
died,  although  his  father  did,  upon  one  occasion,  come  to  the  United 
States  to  pay  a  short  visit  to  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The  family 
was  originally  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  the  first  settlement  in 
County  Mayo  having  been  made  by  Robert  L.  Dignan's  grand- 
father. 

Patrick  Dignan  was  educated  in  the  national  schools  of  Ireland 
until  he  was  sixteen,  and  then  for  a  year  found  employment  there 
in  a  general  store.  At  seventeen  he  decided  to  seek  his  fortune  in 
the  United  States,  and  arrived  in  the  City  of  Providence,  R,  I.,  at 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  439 

the  time  when  the  cry  of  war  was  stirring  the  land.  Patriotic  feel- 
ings moved  the  young  Irishman's  heart,  and  he  determined  to  be- 
come a  soldier.  He  immediately  joined  the  Second  Rhode  Island 
Cavalry,  and  at  once  went  to  the  front.  Here  his  skill  as  a  civil 
engineer  and  his  genius  for  mechanics  found  quick  recognition,  and 
he  was  soon  transferred  to  Fort  Gratiot,  Michigan,  to  take  part  in 
the  construction  of  the  government  works  there,  and  at  this  point  he 
remained  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

It  was  in  1865  that  Mr.  Dignau  first  came  to  Chicago,  and  this 
city  has  since  been  his  permanent  home.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  worked  for  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Kailroad  Com- 
pany, and  in  that  employ  remained  until  he  started  in  business  for 
himself.  The  livery  and  undertaking  business,  which  he  founded 
and  still  continues,  has  prospered  exceedingly,  and  he  has  been  able 
to  amass  therein  a  comfortable  fortune.  For  a  number  of  years 
past  it  has  been  Mr.  Dignau's  custom  to  visit  his  native  land  every 
summer,  and  he  has  crossed  the  Atlantic  fifteen  times. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  in  1865  in  Chicago  to 
Christine  Hishfalt,  who  died  in  1889,  and  Mr.  Dignau  then  mar- 
ried Alice  Brown,  another  Chicago  lady,  and  they  have  had  five 
children. 

In  his  religious  views  he  is  a  Homau  Catholic,  and  in  his  politics 
an  Independent  Democrat. 

Mr.  Dignan  is  a  true  Irishman,  and  firm  in  his  belief  that  Ireland 
should  be  given  the  right  of  self  government.  Since  1865  he  has 
been  connected  with  Chicago  Irish  organizations;  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Catholic  and  Independent  Order  of  Foresters  and  also  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

In  the  New  Movement  Convention  of  1895  in  this  city,  he  was  not 
only  a  delegate,  but  also  a  member  of  the  executive  committee. 


440  BIOGRAPHICAL,   HISTORY    OF   THE 


DR.  HENRY  THOMAS  MURPHY. 


Dr.  Henry  Thomas  Murphy  was  born  November  19th,  1863,  at 
Ft.  Wiimebago,  just  outside  of  Portage,  Wis. — a  historic  spot,  for 
there  Abraham  Lincoln  and  Jefferson  Davis  served  during  the 
Black  Hawk  War.  His  parents  were  Michael  and  Jane  (McDon- 
ald) Murphy,  both  natives  of  County  Galway,  Ireland,  who,  coming 
to  America  in  1849,  had  settled  in  this  country  and  brought  up 
a  family  of  eleven  children. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  early  education  iii  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  town,  graduating  from  its  high  school 
in  the  class  of  1886.  From  1884  to  1886,  however,  he  was  com- 
pelled to  teach  in  Columbia  County,  Wis.,  in  order  to  secure  the 
necessary  means  to  continue  his  studies.  After  graduating,  he 
definitely  decided  upon  making  medicine  his  profession,  and  on 
the  1st  of  March,  1887,  he  entered  the  Rush  Medical  College  of 
Chicago  and,  completing  a  three  years'  course,  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1890  and  began  to  practice  in  Chicago.  During  the  period 
that  he  was  attending  the  medical  college  he  held  several  posi- 
tions in  the  County  Hospital. 

Dr.  Murphy  is  a  prominent  member  and  Examining  Physician 
for  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  and  belongs  also  to  the  Knights 
of  Maccabees,  Independent  Order  of  Foresters,  and  the  Supreme 
Order  of  Foresters  of  Canada. 

Dr.  Murphy  is  in  religion  a  devout  Catholic  and  a  regular  at- 
tendant at  All  Saints'  Church.  In  his  politics  he  has  never  varied 
but  has  always  been  a  faithful  adherent  to  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party,  A  close  student,  an  omnivorous  reader,  he  is 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  441 

always  a  pleasaut  and  charniiug  companion.  In  his  professional 
duties  he  evinces  wonderful  patience  and  skill  as  well  as  the  great- 
est kindness,  which,  in  addition  to  his  considerable  ability,  are  rap- 
idly and  deservedly  accumulating  for  him  a  splendid  practice. 


CHARLES  JOSEPH   MAGEE. 


Any  record  of  the  lives  and  achievements  of  worthy  Irishmen 
and  those  of  Irish  blood  would  be  incomplete  did  it  not  contain 
some  mention  of  the  history  of  Charles  Joseph  Magee,  the  well 
known  Chicago  contractor  and  builder.  He  was  born  March  15th, 
18(>0,  in  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  his  parents  being  Charles  and 
Catherine  (McLaughliu)  Magee.  The  father  was  a  large  and  prom- 
inent stock  farmer  whose  family  had  been  prominent  in  the  Irish 
Rebellion. 

The  subject  of  the  present  sketch  attended  the  national  schools 
of  his  native  town  until  he  was  fifteen,  when  for  three  years  he  went 
to  work  on  a  farm.  The  building  of  the  Great  Northern  Railroad 
of  Ireland  found  him  at  work  on  the  road  as  a  laborer,  and  he  was 
s(x>n  promoted  to  the  position  of  time-keeper.  Here  he  remained, 
however,  but  a  short  time,  for  he  had  decided  to  learn  the  trade  of 
a  carpenter,  and  after  serving  an  apprenticeship  he  secured  a  posi- 
tion as  carpenter  on  a  steamship  and  for  a  year  made  several  trips 
to  Europe,  visiting  many  points,  and  upon  one  occasion  being  ship- 
wrecked in  the  Bay  of  Biscay.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in 
August,  1881,  and  directly  on  to  Chicago.  For  a  time  he  worked 
for  P.  D.  Armour,  at  the  Stock  Yards,  but  later  he  secured  employ- 


442  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF    THE 

ineiit  with  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railroad,  and  was  made 
superintendent  of  a  gang  of  men  who  were  doing  repairing  along 
the  railroad. 

Moved  by  his  ambitious  disposition  he  determined,  in  1883,  to 
no  longer  work  for  other  people  but  to  start  in  the  general  con- 
tracting business.  The  result  well  justified  his  views,  for  being 
shrewd,  honest,  and  thoroughly  reliable,  besides  possessing  a  full 
understanding  of  every  detail  of  the  trade,  he  was  soon  in  the  pos- 
session of  a  very  prosperous  business.  Mr.  Magee  has  taken  con- 
tracts for  and  has  constructed  over  eight  hundred  buildings  in 
Chicago,  and  among  the  large  buildings  which  he  has  built  may 
be  mentioned  the  block  at  Twelfth  and  Wabash  Avenue,  at  a  cost 
of  |123,000,  and  another  at  the  corner  of  Belden  Avenue  and  Lar- 
rabee  Street,  for  $56,000.  At  this  writing — the  spring  of  1897 — he 
has  just  finished  a  home  for  himself  at  a  cost  of  |11,600.  In  the 
buying  of  property  at  bargains,  the  building  up  and  selling  at  a 
considerable  profit,  he  has  been  very  successful,  and  his  possession 
of  business  qualifications  of  the  very  highest  character  has  been 
very  completely  demonstrated. 

Mr.  Magee  was  married,  December  29th,  1886,  to  Annie  Worth, 
who  came  of  good  County  Wexford  stock,  and  whose  family  had 
taken  part  in  the  late  war,  in  which  a,n  uncle  of  hers,  Da,tas  Worth, 
was  killed  and  her  father  very  badly  wounded.  They  have  five  chil- 
dren. 

So  far  as  his  means  will  allow  him,  Mr.  Magee  is  both  benevo- 
lent and  charitable.  He  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a  regular  attend- 
ant at  the  Church  of  St.  Jarlath,  while  in  his  political  views  he  ad- 
heres strictly  to  the  Democratic  party.  Formerly  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  aJid  he  now  belongs  to  the 
Independent  Order  of  Foresters  and  also  to  the  Columbus  Club. 

There  is  no  man  in  his  business  in  Chicago  who  at  the  present 
time  is  more  prosperous,  or  who  possesses  a  higher  reputation  for 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  443 

honesty  and  integrity.  By  those  in  his  employ  he  is  always  spoken 
of  in  the  very  highest  terms  for  his  fair  and  kind  treatment,  and 
strikes  and  difficulties  with  him  are  few  and  far  between. 

That  he  should  ever  have  been  enabled  to  make  so  good  a  busi- 
ness success  and  amass  so  comfortable  a  fortune  while  yet  com- 
paratively a  young  man,  he  considers  the  result  of  the  strict 
attention  he  has  always  paid  to  the  details  of  his  business,  of  his 
honest  treatment  of  every  one,  and  to  the  soundness  of  his  judg- 
ment on  all  business  matters. 


JOSEPH  JOYCE. 


No  American  Irishman  in  Chicago  is  better  entitled  to  the  honor- 
able distinction  of  being  called  a  self-made  man  than  is  the  subject 
of  the  present  sketch,  Mr.  Joseph  Joyce,  who  was  born  March  27th, 
1860,  in  this  city.  His  parents  were  Michael  and  Mary  Joyce,  both 
natives  of  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  and  who  were  married  in  the 
City  of  Chicago,  January  3d,  1853.  Michael  Joyce  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  h'remen  of  Chicago  under  the  old  volunteer  system,  and 
was  for  many  years  the  custodian  of  the  old  court  house  bell,  which 
he  used  to  ring  in  case  of  tire,  before  the  introduction  of  the  present 
telegraph  system.  He  was  a  modest  and  unassuming  man  and 
one  at  all  times  most  attentive  to  his  duties,  and  as  a  result  of  long 
hours  and  overwork,  died  January,  1864.  In  the  possession  of  the 
family  is  still  the  old  silver  fire  badge — a  shield — number  189, 
which  was  so  long  worn  by  the  father;  and  also  the  first  annual 
report  of  the  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Fire  Department.  His  wife, 


444  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

Mary,  a  woman  of  very  noble  character,  died  November  17th,  188(5. 
Michael  Joyce  left  a  large  tract  of  land  where  Garfield  Park  is  now 
located,  which  then  was  known  as  Bull's  Head,  and  also  a  home- 
stead, but  the  former  the  mother  was  compelled  to  sell  in  order  to 
educate  the  family  with  which  she  was  left,  consisting  of  four 
children. 

Joseph  Joyce  attended  the  Holy  Family  School  until  he  was 
ten  years  of  age,  and  then  for  a  further  twelve  months  the  Clark 
public  school,  in  that  time  completing  all  the  schooling  he  was 
destined  to  receive.  The  boy  was  but  four  yeara  old  when  Ms  father 
died,  and  as  he  grew  in  years — he  being  the  oldest  of  the  family— 
he  shared  the  joys  and  sorrows  of  his  self-sacrificing  mother,  to 
whom  he  was  very  greatly  attached.  At  the  age  of  eleven  he  en- 
deavored to  find  some  employment  in  order  that  he  might  be  of 
help  in  the  support  of  the  family. 

His  first  employment  was  as  an  errand  bojr  to  a  contractor,  and 
this  was  his  occupation  at  the  time  of  the  great  fire,  when,  how- 
ever, the  home  of  the  family  escaped,  not  being  in  the  path  of  the 
flames,  and  the  Joyces  were  able  to  share  what  they  had  with  others 
less  fortunate  than  themselves.  From  1872  to  1876,  though  still 
young,  he  did  a  man's  work  in  driving  a  team,  and  in  the  latter 
year  was  offered  by  the  city  a  position  in  taking  down  and  putting 
up  telegraph  wires,  but  concluding  that  the  occupation  would  not 
be  congenial  to  him,  refused  it  and  started  in  the  wholesale  dis- 
trict in  search  of  a  position.  Many  refusals  did  not  discourage 
him,  and  he  finally  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  place  in  the  wholesale 
paper  house  of  Bradner  Smith  &  Co.  For  some  time  he  was  em- 
ployed moving  goods  into  the  new  warehouse  and  had  to  work 
eighteen  hours  a  day.  Quite  early  in  his  life  he  made  up  his  mind 
that  the  only  way  to  succeed  in  life  was  to  work  hard,  learn  the 
business,  and  watch  out  for  opportunities,  and  his  faithful  efforts 
soon  attracted  the  attention  of  the  Cleveland  Paper  Co.,  a  rival 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  445 

company,  by  whom  he  was  offered  the  position  of  receiving  clerk. 
His  diligent  work  continuing,  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  a 
salesman,  and  after  a  time  was  offered  a  place  of  greater  responsi- 
bility with  the  J.  W.  Butler  Paper  Co.,  and  there  remained  for  five 
years,  going  thence  to  the  Calumet  Paper  Company  at  an  advanced 
salary,  and  remaining  with  the  latter  until  the  premises  were 
burned  out  and  the  company  retired  from  business.  Having  saved 
some  little  money,  he  bought  part  of  a  damaged  stock  of  paper  at 
auction,  and  was  fortunate  in  selling  the  same  to  considerable 
profit.  Thus  encouraged  to  go  into  business  for  himself,  in  the 
spring  of  1895  he  organized  the  Empire  Paper  Company,  of  which 
he  became  President  and  Treasurer,  and  under  his  charge  the  com- 
pany has  met  with  commendable  success,  and  already  supplies 
some  of  the  largest  consumers  in  the  city. 

Mr.  Joyce  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Chicago  Zouaves, 
and  also  took  considerable  stock  in  the  World's  Fair  enterprise. 
A  member  of  the  Columbus  Club,  the  Royal  Arcanum,  as  well  as 
a  charter  member  of  Commercial  Council  26,  Royal  League,  in  the 
latter  having  held  every  office  in  the  gift  of  the  Council  except  Col- 
lector and  Scribe.  Twice  he  has  been  representative  to  Advisory 
Council,  and  has  just  been  re-elected  Treasurer,  having  filled  every 
one  of  these  offices  with  honor  to  himself  and  with  credit  to  the 
society. 

In  his  political  views  he  has  always  been  independent,  while 
in  religious  matters  he  is  a  Catholic  of  liberal  views.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Ella  McLanghlin,  of  Chicago,  June  10th,  1885,  and  they 
have  had  four  children,  but  only  one  is  living.  Mr.  Joyce  has  a 
comfortable  home  at  5532  La  Salle  Avenue,  where,  with  his  wife, 
he  delights  to  entertain  and  make  life  pleasant  for  his  family  and 
happy  for  others.  His  friends  are  many,  for  Mr.  Joyce  in  his  earn- 
est struggle  has  gained  at  once  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  with 


446  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

whom  he  has  been  brought  into  contact,  and  the  success  he  has 
achieved  has  in  no  ways  aroused  envious  feeling.  He  is  generous 
natured  and  liberal,  and  thoroughly  representative  of  the  race  from 
whence  he  sprung. 


FREDERICK  S.  McCLORY. 


Frederick  S.  McClory,  a  rising  young  Chicago  lawyer  of  Irish 
descent,  who  was  born  in  Quincy,  Massachusetts,  January  19th, 
1869,  evidently  inherits  his  abilities  in  the  legal  line,  for  his  father 
was  also  a  well  known  Irish  lawyer  of  this  city.  His  father,  Henry 
McClory,  who  was  a  native  of  Belfast,  Ireland,  had  come  when  a 
boy  to  America,  settling  first  in  Boston  and  in  1877  moving  west  to 
Chicago.  As  has  been  said,  he  became  one  of  the  best  known  law- 
yers of  Chicago,  and  without  being  in  any  way  an  agitator,  was 
extremely  prominent  in  all  Irish  matters  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  in  1893.  His  wife,  formerly  Margaret  Persse,  and  who  died 
in  1871,  belonged  to  an  old  West  of  Ireland  family,  her  father  hav- 
ing left  the  old  country  and  settled  at  Johnstown,  New  York. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  obtained  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Chicago  until  he  was  fourteen,  when  a  private  tutor  was 
provided  for  him  and  the  boy  studied  Latin  and  Greek.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen  he  entered  his  father's  law  office,  and  at  the  same  time, 
with  sixteen  others,  organized  the  first  evening  law  school,  now 
known  as  the  Chicago  College  of  Law.  This  school  was  attended 
until  he  was  nineteen,  when  he  passed  the  necessary  examination, 
but  still  had  two  years  to  wait  before  he  was  of  sufficient  years  to 
be  given  a  license. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  447 

On  May  18th,  1891,  however,  he  received  his  qualifications  and 
went  into  his  father's  office,  remaining  with  him  until  the  tatter's 
death,  when  he  entered  the  la.w  office  of  C.  C.  Bonney,  and  sliortly 
afterwards  opened  an  office  and  began  to  practice  alone.  Very 
good  success  'has  followed  the  efforts  of  Mr.  McClory,  who  has 
already  succeeded  in  building  up  a  very  good  general  practice. 
Considerable  legal  work  has  been  done  by  him  for  the  Chicago  Gen- 
eral Electric  Railroad  Company  and  the  Douglas  Park  Building 
Association,  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  clients  and  to  the  con 
siderable  preservation  of  their  heavy  interests. 

In  May,  1889,  Mr.  McClory  was  married  to  Catherine  Reilly,  and 
they  have  had  five  children,  of  whom  there  are  three  living. 

A  Democrat  in  his  politics  and  a  member  of  the  North  Amer- 
ican Union,  a  fraternal  insurance  company,  Mr.  McClory  has  a  host 
of  friends  who  can  be  counted  only  by  the  number  of  his  acquaint- 
ances. 


PATRICK  VINCENT  FITZPATRICK. 


As  an  example  of  what  unlimited  energy  and  untiring  perse- 
verance, when  united  to  a  character  of  fearless  and  unswerving 
honesty,  can  achieve  in  the  world,  the  Hon.  Patrick  V.  Fitzpatrick, 
gallant  Union  soldier  and  exemplary  citizen,  stands  pre-eminent 
among  the  thousands  of  prominent  American  Irish  in  Chicago.  All 
the  difficulties  that  could  beset  a  man  in  the  battle  of  life,  he  has 
fought  against  and  triumphed  over.  He  arrived  in  Chicago  in  1858 
as  a  train-boy,  and  in  less  than  forty  years  he  is  to-day  Senatorial 
representative  for  the  First  District  of  Illinois,  one  of  the  most  irn- 

23 


448  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

portant  districts,  and  is  kiiown  all  over  tlie  world  as  the  unanimous 
selection  of  the  Irish  National  Alliance  for  the  proud  distinction  of 
Treasurer  and  custodian  of  its  immense  funds. 

Senator  Fitzpatrick  is  an  unmistakable  Irishman,  his  many 
years  in  this  country  having  in  no  way  deprived  him  of  that  rich 
accent  that  speaks  so  plainly  of  the  old  land  across  the  Atlantic. 
He  was  born  in  Ennis,  County  Clare,  Ireland,  July  17th,  1840.  Both 
his  parents  are  dead,  his  father,  Dennis  Fitzpatrick,  a  tenant  far- 
mer, died  when  he  was  a  child  of  five,  and  his  mother,  formerly  Ann 
Callanan,  three  years  earlier.  Young  Fitzpatrick  was  brought  to 
America  by  his  elder  brother,  and  all  his  youthful  surroundings  in 
this  country  wrere  with  those  who  possessed  no  greater  advantages 
than  himself.  He  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  To- 
ledo, Ohio,  but  was  forced  to  earn  his  own  living  from  the  time  he 
was  fourteen,  and  quickly  discovered  that  in  this  country  the  first 
essential  of  success  was  education.  He  was  eighteen  when,  as  be- 
fore stated,  in  the  capacity  of  train-boy  on  the  L.  S.  &  N.  S.  Rail- 
way, he  arrived  in  Chicago.  The  year  following  he  purchased  a 
scholarship  in  Sloan  Commercial  College,  from  which  he  graduated 
March  4th,  1861.  Later  in  the  same  year,  September  10th,  and 
chiefly  that  he  might  be  entitled  to  call  himself  an  American,  he 
enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  "F,"  Ninth  Illinois  Cavalry  Vol- 
unteers, for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  and  served  as  company 
clerk  and  corporal  till  November  1st,  1862,  when  he  was  promoted 
to  be  Regimental  Sergeant  Major.  He  held  that  position,  serving 
as  a  good  and  faithful  soldier,  until  the  battle  of  Moscow,  Tenn., 
on  December  4th,  1863,  where  he  was  severely  wounded  by  a  shot 
in  the  head,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  has  since  been  a  sufferer. 
Honorably  discharged,  on  account  of  wounds  received  in  action, 
he  left  the  service  April  16th,  1864,  leaving  for  his  record  that  of 
a  splendid  soldier,  one  ever  prompt  and  reliable  in  the  execution 
of  orders  and  of  a  courage  nothing  could  daunt. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  449 

In  August,  1864,  when  the  United  States  Government  inaugu- 
rated the  letter  carrier  system  in  Chicago,  John  L.  Scripps,  who 
was  then  postmaster,  appointed  Mr.  Fitzpatrick  as  one  of  the  orig- 
inal twenty-six  carriers  allowed  to  the  Chicago  office.  For  seven 
years  he  carried  letters  in  the  district  bounded  by  Polk  and  Eight- 
eenth Streets  on  the  south,  and  from  the  lake  to  the  river  on  the 
west,  and  made  himself  one  of  the  best  known  and  highly  respected 
men  in  the  district.  In  1868,  his  spirit  of  independence  led  him  to 
start  in  business  for  himself,  and  though  necessarily  at  first  in  a 
small  way,  his  book,  stationery  and  news  establishment  is  now  prob- 
ably the  largest  on  the  south  side.  In  addition,  he  has  large  mining 
and  real  estate  interests  in  the  Black  Hills.  For  the  past  twenty 
years  he  has  been  located  at  154  Twenty-second  Street,  and  as  a 
business  man  has  gained  the  highest  esteem  of  every  one  with 
whom  he  has  been  brought  into  contact. 

lie  has  always  been  a  Republican,  and  speaks  with  pride  of  a 
vote  cast  for  Lincoln  in  1864.  Requested  to  stand  on  the  Repub- 
lican  ticket  for  the  First  Senatorial  District  of  Illinois,  and  having 
received  a  unanimous  nomination,  he  was  elected  Senator  Novem- 
ber 6th,  1894.  At  the  great  Irish  convention  in  this  city  last  year, 
1895,  when  the  Irish  National  Alliance  was  formed,  he  was  by  gen- 
eral acclamation  proclaimed  Treasurer  to  the  Alliance,  and  his 
work,  both  as  Senator  and  Treasurer,  has  been  of  such  a  character 
as  to  still  further  increase  his  reputation  for  sterling  ability,  pro- 
bity, and  entire  rectitude. 

Mr.  Fitzpatrick  was  married,  November  1st,  1866,  to  Miss  An- 
nie Kenny,  of  Peoria,  111.  They  have  one  daughter,  Una. 

In  religion  he  is  a  thorough  Catholic  and  for  fifteen  years  acted 
as  sexton  to  the  Rev.  Father  Walton,  towards  the  building  of  whose 
church  he  was  instrumental  in  obtaining  the  necessary  funds. 

Senator  Fitzpatrick  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  and  other  veteran  organizations,  besides  being  prominent- 


450  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OP    THE 

ly  connected  with  a  number  of  patriotic  and  benevolent  societies. 
He  started,  and  was  afterwards  Treasurer  of  the  Cronin  fund,  in- 
stituted to  give  those  accused  a  fair  trial,  and  towards  the  purpose 
the  amount  of  $50,000  was  collected.  Ever  faithful  to  the  great 
land  of  his  adoption,  the  country  of  his  birth  has  never  been  for- 
gotten— indeed,  Ireland  has  few  more  earnest  friends,  even  in  this 
freedom  loving  and  ever  friendly  disposed  United  States,  than  Pat- 
rick V.  Fitzpatrick,  Senator  First  Senatorial  District  of  Illinois. 


JOHN   B.  JEFFERY. 


A  typical  Chicagoan,  energetic  and  unconquerable,  one  to  whom 
difficulties  are  but  opportunities  and  misfortunes  the  stepping 
stones  to  greater  effort,  is  John  B.  Jeffery,  than  whom  there  is  pos- 
sibly to-day  no  one  in  this  city  better  known  or  more  highly  con- 
sidered. 

Mr.  Jeft'ery  is  a  very  happy  combination  of  several  nationali- 
ties. His  father  was  an  Englishman  and  with  all  the  British  de- 
termination of  character,  while  his  mother,  who  was  a  native  of 
County  Antrim,  Ireland,  came  of  sturdy  stock  also,  for  her  parents 
were  a  Scotch  father  and  an  Irish  mother. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at  Niagara  Falls,  January 
llth,  1846.  Having  received  his  education,  he  served  an  apprentice- 
ship to  the  printer's  trade.  In  1863  he  came  to  Chicago  to  join  the 
staff  of  the  "Morning  Post,"  remaining  with  that  paper  as  a  re- 
porter after  it  merged  into  the  "Republican"  and  had  Charles  A. 
Dana  for  its  editor.  Giving  up  newspaper  employ  temporarily,  he 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  451 

look  charge  of  the  mechanical  portion  of  the  business  of  Tower, 
Millard  &  Decker's  job  printing  establishment,  with  which  firm 
he  remained  until  1869,  when  he  was  offered  the  position  of  busi- 
ness manager  of  the  "Indianapolis  Sentinel,"  a  place  held  until 
he  obtained  the  management  of  the  job  department  of  the  "Chicago 
Evening  Journal."  When  the  great  fire  of  1871  destroyed  the 
business  portion  of  the  city,  Mr.  Jeffery  embraced  the  opportunity, 
and,  improvising  an  office  within  twenty-four  hours  of  the  event, 
was  able  to  issue  the  first  local  paper — "The  Evening  Journal"— 
published  in  the  city.  On  the  death  of  C.  L.  Wilson,  the  publisher 
of  "The  Evening  Journal,"  he  obtained  a  lease  of  the  job  depart- 
ment, shortly  afterwards  purchasing  outright.  This  gave  him  a 
chance  to  show  of  what  he  was  capable,  and  under  his  conduct 
the  business  proved  most  successful  for  a  number  of  years,  until, 
in  December,  1883,  a  fire  which  consumed  "The  Evening  Journal" 
Building  and  completely  destroyed  the  collection  of  engravings 
which  Mr.  Jeffery  had  gathered  together  with  years  of  labor,  and 
to  which  also  he  had  devoted  all  his  savings.  This  as  well  as  legal 
complications  arising  out  of  the  same,  obliged  him  temporarily  to 
abandon  the  business  it  had  taken  him  so  many  years  to  build  up. 

Mr.  Jeffery  was  the  founder  of  several  successful  trade  journals, 
among  which  may  be  mentioned:  "The  National  Builder,"  "The 
Black  Diamond,"  and  "The  Amusement  Guide  and  Directory."  Al- 
ways a  staunch  Republican,  and  having  been  closely  and  intimately 
connected  with  Presidents  Grant  and  Garfield,  taking  a  very  prom- 
inent part  in  the  latter's  campaign,  he  was  offered  the  position  of 
Public  Printer.  In  the  late  campaign,  too,  he  was  Delegate  to  the 
State  Convention,  and  to  his  enthusiastic  work  and  unremitting 
efforts  the  carrying  of  the  resolutions  endorsing  Mr.  McKinley 
for  President  of  the  United  States  was  in  a  large  measure  due. 

Since  the  printing  business  was  given  up,  Mr.  Jeffery  has  de- 
voted his  abilities  and  energies  to  several  other  Hues,  and  in  each 


452  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

has  been  able  to  show  that  remarkable  force  of  character  which 
appeal's  to  command  success. 

In  his  domestic  relations  he  has  also  been  peculiarly  fortunate, 
for  Mrs.  Jeffery  is  a  lady  of  great  popularity  and  social  distinction, 
and  their  charming  home  is  a  rendezvous  for  the  leaders  in  literary 
and  artistic  circles.  Their  eldest  son,  Harry  B.  Jeffery,  possesses 
the  distinction  of  birth  co-incident  with  the  Chicago  fire. 

John  B.  Jeffery  belongs  to  a  number  of  benevolent  and  social 
organizations;  in  Masonic  degrees  he  stands  very  high;  with  the 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks  he  has  long  been  associ- 
ated; and  he  is  a  member  of  the  Union  League,  Washington  Park, 
and  Press  Clubs.  Personally  he  is  a  man  of  great  charm;  he  is  a 
writer  of  recognized  ability,  and  as  a  brilliant  conversationalist 
possesses  few  equals  in  Chicago. 


JOHN  H.  DONLIN. 

The  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  one  of  Chicago's  most  notable 
builders  and  contractors,  is  a  native  of  Rochester,  New  York  State, 
and  came  to  this  city  when  quite  a  child  with  his  parents,  in  1844. 
His  father,  James  Doulin,  was  born  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  and  with 
his  wife  left  the  old  country  for  New  York  State  in  1838.  For  six 
years  he  followed  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith,  in  Rochester,  and  then 
removed  to  Chicago,  continuing  in  the  same  occupation  until  his 
death,  in  1857.  His  wife,  formerly  Mary  Flanaghan,  who  was  also 
a  native  of  Dublin,  followed  her  husband  to  the  grave  two  years 
later. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  453 

Jolm  H.  Doulin  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Chicago,  after  leaving  which  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  carpenter. 
At  the  end  of  three  years'  apprenticeship,  in  1860,  the  young  man 
came  to  the  conclusion  to  start  for  himself  and  commenced  contract- 
ing. With  entire  success  he  progressed  until  the  fire  of  1871,  when 
he  was  burned  out,  losing  in  the  neighborhood  of  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  Once  again,  however,  he  started,  and  with  re- 
newed energy,  the  result  being  that  the  ground  he  had  lost  was 
quickly  recovered.  During  the  immediate  years  following  the  fire, 
he  built  a  dozen  or  more  police  stations  and  other  public  buildings 
in  this  city,  and  in  1880-81  constructed  the  Government  headquar- 
ters at  Fort  Snelling,  a  work  that  consumed  nearly  two  years,  and 
the  contract  for  which  amounted  to  $250,000.  Mr.  Donlin  also 
built  the  court  house  at  Kankakee,  as  well  as  various  public  build- 
ings it  Quincy  and  Lincoln,  Illinois,  in  addition  to  Chicago  struc- 
tures too  numerous  to  mention,  but  among  which  was  the  wigwam 
in  which  George  B.  McClellan  was  nominated  for  President,  in 
1868. 

Mr.  Donlin  was  married,  in  1859,  to  Miss  B.  M.  Consandine,  of 
this  city.  They  have  nine  children  living,  the  eldest  son,  William 
J.,  is  one  of  our  promising  young  lawyers,  and  the  eldest  daughter, 
Molly,  is  married  to  Mr.  Samuel  Morse,  president  of  the  Minneapo- 
lis Milling  Association.  Four  of  the  other  children  are  also  mar- 
ried. 

A  Democrat  in  his  politics  until  the  nomination  of  James  G. 
Blaine,  he  followed  the  latter,  and  since  that  time  has  voted  the 
Republican  ticket.  Mr.  Donlin  served  as  Captain  of  the  famous 
Ellsworth  Zouaves  for  three  years,  and  was  also  Captain  of  the 
Second  Regiment  under  Col.  James  Quirk,  of  124th  Illinois,  and  of 
the  Irish  Brigade,  under  the  command  of  the  late  lamented  Col. 
Mulligan. 

Mr.  Donlin  is  well  preserved  and  of  sound  constitution,  and 


454  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

looks,  as  he  has  proved,  a  successful  man.  While  his  important 
business  interests  have  engrossed  most  of  his  time  and  energy,  and 
indeed,  so  continue  to  do,  he  has  yet  found  time  to  travel  ex- 
tensively all  over  the  United  States,  both  for  business  and  recrea- 
tion. It  should  also  be  mentioned  that  he  is  a  member  of  the  Sher- 
idan Club.  Domestic,  in  his  disposition  and  tastes,  his  happiest 
hours  are  those  spent  in  the  midst  of  his  interesting  family  circle. 


PATRICK   MCHUGH. 


Among  the  most  honored  and  respected  citizens  of  this  great 
city  are  many  who  either  owe  their  birth  to  the  dear  green  isle 
across  the  Atlantic  or  whose  fondest  associations  are  linked  with 
that  of  their  sires.  Of  these  in  Chicago,  few  are  better  known 
or  deservedly  more  esteemed  than  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Pat- 
rick McHugh.  His  family  is  one  of  the  most  ancient  in  Ireland, 
and  its  pedigree  can  be  traced  in  a  direct  line  to  a  period  more  than 
twelve  centuries  before  the  time  of  Christ. 

His  father,  Patrick  McHugh  also,  who  was  born  in  County  Cavan 
in  1807,  having  married  Catharine  Curran  in  the  old  country,  was 
unable  to  live  under  its  hampered  conditions,  and,  leaving  Ireland 
in  1841,  found  a  new  home  in  Ontario,  Canada,  where  fortune  fa- 
vored him  and  he  became  a  well-to-do  farmer.  They  raised  a  family 
of  seven  sons  and  four  daughters,  and  of  these  two  sons  have 
greatly  distinguished  themselves  in  the  legal  profession.  Michael 
A.  McHugh  is  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Ontario, 
while  Patrick  McHugh  is  one  of  Chicago's  leading  lawyers. 

Patrick  was  born  in  Ontario,  Canada,  in  1843.     In  1861,  after 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  467 

a  year's  schooling  in  the  evening  college  there,  he  came  to  this 
city  and  entered  the  Catholic  University  of  St.  Mary's,  an  institu- 
tion which  was  destroyed  by  fire  a  few  years  later.  He  took  a 
four  years'  course  and  graduated  with  the  class  of  18(J5.  He  then 
spent  a  couple  of  years  with  the  Union  College  of  Law,  Chicago, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1867,  and  at  once  began  to  practice 
law. 

Early  in  1892  a  partnership  was  entered  into  with  the  late  John 
M.  Rountree,  and  continued  until  1895,  when  Mr.  McHugh  thought 
it  more  advisable  to  devote  himself  to  his  rapidly  growing  general 
practice.  He  has  since  made  himself  a  high  reputation  for  care- 
ful preparation,  skillful  handling,  and  also  entire  faithfulness  to 
his  clients.  In  the  cross-examination  of  witnesses  he  is  among  the 
foremost  in  Chicago,  and  his  shrewd  ability  in  detecting  the  weak 
points  has  brought  him  into  great  request  as  a  jury  lawyer.  This 
estimation  was  forcibly  brought  before  the  public  in  the  well- 
known  McMahon  case,  during  the  progress  of  which,  for  several 
months,  the  name  of  Patrick  McHugh  was  in  daily  mention. 

He  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  the  esteem  in  which  he  is 
held  by  his  party  and  in  the  legal  profession  was  shown  by  his 
nomination  as  judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  in  1893.  With  the  bal- 
ance of  the  ticket,  however,  he  was  not  among  the  elect. 

Mr.  McIIugh's  popularity  is  not  confined  to  the  legal  profes- 
sion; his  ever  genial  manner  and  sterling  good  qualities  have 
made  him  well  liked  and  esteemed  in  financial,  business,  club  and 
social  circles.  He  is  a  life  member  of  the  Chicago  Athletic  Club, 
a  member  of  the  Columbus  and  the  Iroquois  Clubs,  and  also  a  very 
active  participator  in  the  literary  work  of  the  Chicago  Athenaeum. 
His  travels  over  this  continent  have  been  of  a  very  extensive  char- 
acter, and  both  in  natural  gifts  and  in  acquired  he  is  eminently 
fitted  for  the  high  position  he  has  gained  for  himself  in  the  bar 
and  in  the  estimation  of  the  people  of  Chicago. 


458  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 


SENATOR  JAMES   WALTER   DUNCAN. 

James  Walter  Duncan  was  born  at  La  Salle,  Illinois,  January 
18th,  1849.  His  parents  were  Nicholas  and  Isabella  (McBoyle) 
Duncan,  the  father  a  native  of  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  and  the 
mother  of  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  both  having  left  their  native  coun- 
tries during  the  year  1838  for  America,  where  they  settled  first  in 
Indiana  and  afterwards  at  La  Salle,  Illinois.  The  mother  was  of  an 
old  Scotch  family  from  Aberdeen. 

James  Duncan,  like  many  of  his  generation  who  have  since  made 
themselves  notable  figures  in  the  world,  was  compelled  in  his  young- 
er days  to  work  on  his  father's  farm  and  to  secure  what  schooling- 
was  possible  during  the  winter  months,  when  the  crops  were  laid 
by.  His  disposition  was,  however,  an  intensely  studious  one,  and 
such  was  the  fondness  he  showed  for  his  books,  that  his  father  sent 
him  to  the  Christian  Brothers  College  at  La  Salle  and  later  to  Nia- 
gara Falls,  N.  Y.,  University.  The  last  named,  circumstances  com- 
pelled him  to  leave  without  graduating,  and  he  located  in  La  Salle, 
entering  the  law  office  of  E.  F.  Ball,  Esq.,  who  at  that  time  stood  at 
the  head  of  the  bar  in  that  section.  He  studied  law  until  1871, 
and  was  admitted  to  practice. 

After  opening  an  office  in  La  Salle,  by  his  careful  management 
of  cases  entrusted  to  him  and  by  absolute  fidelity  to  his  clients'  in- 
terests, he  acquired  a  large  practice  which  extended  to  Ottawa,  111. 
In  1876,  Mr.  Duncan  formed  a  partnership  with  Senator  Andrew  J. 
O'Connor,  law  offices  being  opened  at  La  Salle  and  Ottawa.  The 
firm  rapidly  made  for  itself  a  big  reputation  for  professional  ability 
and  successful  handling  of  cases,  with  the  result  that  a  large  gen- 
eral practice  was  secured  extending  all  over  the  above  district. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  459 

With  the  firm  was  associated  in  its  Ottawa  office  for  some  time 
Comptroller  James  H.  Eckels. 

Mr.  Duncan  is  a  firm  believer  in  the  principles,  and  is  a  follower 
of  the  Democratic  party  and  is  for  sound  money.  He  has  on  several 
occasions  been  a  delegate  to  National  Conventions,  was  the  first 
Democratic  Senator  sent  from  the  Twenty-third  Illinois  District, 
serving  from  1882  to  1886,  and  was  elected  Mayor  of  La  Salle  four 
times,  from  1873  to  1879.  At  La  Salle,  besides  taking  a  prominent 
interest  in  politics,  he  has  always  been  a  leader  in  charitable  work 
and  was  ever  among  the  first  to  contribute  money  as  well  as  time  to 
any  project  which  would  result  in  good  to  the  city.  He  was  Presi- 
dent of  the  Union  Coal  Company  of  La  Salle  and  Peru. 

In  1888,  Senator  Duncan,  with  Judge  Hiram  T.  Gilbert,  who  had 
held  the  office  of  County  Judge  of  La  Salle  County,  associated  them- 
selves together  and  came  to  Chicago,  where  they  went  into  practice 
together,  a  partnership  which  has  continued  up  to  the  present  time. 
Here  the  same  worthy  methods  have  been  pursued  and  the  careful 
management  of  cases  entrusted  to  them,  the  attention  to  every  de- 
tail, and  the  remarkable  success  attending  the  work  of  the  firm  has 
produced  a  large  and  very  remunerative  general  practice. 

Such  in  brief  is  the  history  of  one  of  the  self-made  men  of  Chi- 
cago, who  by  his  own  unaided  efforts  has,  while  yet  in  the  prime  of 
life,  achieved  for  himself  reputation,  honor  and  high  position.  As 
a  worker  he  is  absolutely  indefatigable.  His  perseverance  and  in- 
dustry know  no  relaxation  in  energy  or  efforts  until  the  case  or  the 
work  he  has  in  hand  is  completed.  A  speaker  of  much  power,  his 
style  of  argument  is  at  once  clear,  logical  and  convincing;  to  clap- 
trap he  never  resorts,  believing  that  a  plain,  matter  of  fact  manner 
best  appeals  to  the  good  sense  and  good  judgment  of  his  auditors. 

Though  the  time  of  Senator  Duncan  is  too  heavily  occupied  with 
his  professional  duties  to  permit  of  his  being  much  of  a  club  man, 
he  is  a  member  both  of  the  Columbus  and  Sheridan  Clubs. 


460  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

He  was  married  November  25th,  1872,  to  Bridget  Cody,  of  La 
Salle.  They  have  a  son  and  daughter,  Edgar  V.,  born  in  1873,  and 
Isabella  M.,  in  1875. 

He  is  a  man  of  broad  humanity,  iinimpeachable  integrity  and 
very  great  popularity.  Among  his  personal  friends  he  counts  men 
of  all  classes  and  ranks.  He  is  possessed  of  all  those  qualities  and 
characteristics  which  entitle  him  to  a  place  among  Chicago's  rep- 
resentative citizens  and  make  him  one  of  whom  the  Irishmen  of 
Chicago  and  throughout  the  United  States  have  every  reason  to  feel 
proud,  and  upon  whom  esteem  and  honor  can  be  most  worthily  be- 
stowed. 


THOMAS  LAWRENCE  CONWAY. 


Fire  Captain  Thomas  Lawrence  Conway  was  born  in  Chicago, 
on  the  north  side,  July  10th,  1859.  He  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Con- 
way,  a  native  of  Limerick,  who  came  to  America  and  settled  in 
Chicago  some  time  in  the  "forties,"  while  his  mother  was  Johanna 
(Kerwiu)  Conway,  from  Tipperary,  Ireland. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  secured  what  little  education  he  was 
fortunate  enough  to  acquire  in  the  public  schools  of  Chicago,  being 
compelled  at  the  age  of  fourteen  to  go  out  into  the  world  and  fight 
for  himself.  His  first  employment  was  that  of  a  rope  maker,  and 
later  he  became  a  printer.  In  the  fall  of  1883,  however,  he  secured 
an  appointment  as  truckman  in  the  Chicago  Fire  Department,  his 
first  assignment  being  Hook  and  Ladder  No.  1,  located  at  Pacific 
Avenue  and  Harrison  Street.  Here  he  remained  a  couple  of  years, 
being  then  sent  to  No.  3,  located  at  Erie  and  Wells  Streets.  With 


.     AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  461 

this  company  he  was  connected  for  eight  years,  during  which  time 
lie  became  Lieutenant.  July  1st,  1893,  he  was  promoted  to  be  Cap- 
tain and  was  then  sent  to  Engine  No.  32,  located  on  the  Lake  Front, 
where  since  that  time  he  has  remained. 

Captain  Conway  is  a  member  of  the  Maccabees,  and  also  of  the 
Firemen's  Benevolent  Association.  In  his  religious  views  he  is  a 
Roman  Catholic,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Church  of  the  Immaculate 
Conception. 

He  was  married,  February  4th,  1891,  to  Mary  Ellen  Walsh,  of 
Chicago,  and  they  ha.ve  two  children. 

Captain  Conway  is  a  main  of  fine  appearance  and  of  very  agree- 
able manner.  In  the  Chicago  Fire  Brigade  he  is  most  highly 
thought  of,  and  among  his  hosts  of  personal  friends  no  man  bears 
a  higher  character  for  great  personal  worth. 


MICHAEL   LANGAN. 


This  well  known  Detective  Sergeant  was  born  in  Westport, 
County  Mayo,  Ireland,  August,  1842.  He  was  the  son  of  Patrick 
Langan,  a  carpenter  and  a  farmer,  who  died  in  Ireland  in  the  fall 
of  1868,  and  of  Mary  (Lavalle)  Langan,  one  of  a  noted  family  of 
Mayo.  One  of  the  latter's  brothers  had  been  in  the  government 
employ,  and  retiring  on  a  pension,  was  appointed  postmaster  of 
Westport,  a  position  he  held  for  many  years.  Mrs.  Patrick  Langan 
caine  to  Chicago  in  1869  and  resided  with  her  son  Michael  until 
1877,  in  which  year  she  died. 

The  subject,  of  this  sketch  attended  the  public  schools  of  his 


462  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

native  town  at  such  times  as  he  could  be  spared  from  farming  duties 
until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age.  In  1862  he  came  to  America,  re- 
mained for  a  year  in  New  York,  and  then  west  to  Chicago,  where 
for  a  short  time  he  worked  for  his  uncle,  B.  Langan,  the  contractor. 
Michael  Langan  then  engaged  in  various  occupations  for  two 
and  a  half  years,  when  he  went  into  the  dry  goods  business  on  his 
own  account,  but.  decided  after  eighteen  months'  trial  that  he  was 
unsuited  for  that  kind  of  business,  and  so  secured  an  appointment 
on  the  police  force,  February  17th,  1869,  being  assigned  to  the  old 
Huron  Street  Police  Station.  On  February  2d,  1874,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Desk  Sergeant  at  the  Webster  Street  Station,  where  he 
remained  one  and  a  half  years  and  was  transferred  to  the  Chicago 
Avenue  Station,  being  there  for  eight  years.  On  February  2d, 

* 

1882,  he  received  an  assignment  to  the  Central  Station  at  the  City 
Hall  as  Desk  Sergeant,  a  position  he  still  most  worthily  fills. 

This  short  record  of  his  promotions  and  the  responsible  posi- 
tion he  at  present  holds,  speaks  plainly  as  to  Sergeant  Langan's 
strict  performance  of  every  duty  and  of  the  standing  he  possesses 
with  his  superiors.  The  Central  Detail  is  the  center  point  of  the 
whole  department,  and  a  man  to  fill  the  position  must  of  necessity 
be  of  good  education,  very  careful  in  his  habits,  and  at  the  same 
time  have  thorough  acquaintance  with  all  the  police  rules  and 
regulations.  Sergeant  Langan  has  proven  that  he  is  possessed  of 
such  qualifications  and  abilities  during  the  twenty-seven  and  a 
half  years  he  has  been  on  the  Chicago  police  force,  for  he  has  never 
lost  a  day,  never  had  a  complaint  made  against  him,  or  in  a  single 
instance  been  before  the  trial  board. 

He  was  one  of  ten  men  sent  from  his  station  at  the  beginning 
of  the  great  Chicago  fire  to  keep  order,  and  was  on  duty  for  several 
days  assisting  people  to  safety.  When  he  was  relieved,  hair,  whis- 
kers and  eye-brows  were  much  singed  by  proximity  to  the  fire. 

Sergeant  Detective  Langan  is  a  member  of  the  Police  Benevo- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  463 

leiit  Association,  of  which  he  was  a  trustee  from  1882  to  1885;  he 
belongs  also  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters,  and  in  both 
orders  has  been  on  several  occasions  elected  to  office,  but  has  al- 
ways declined  to  serve,  on  the  plea  that  his  duties  would  not  permit 
the  regular  attendance  necessary. 

He  was  married,  June  3d,  1872,  to  Annie  Garrity,  a  native  of 
his  own  town  in  Ireland,  and  they  have  had  five  children,  of  whom 
three  are  living. 

In  religion  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  belongs  to  the  congrega- 
tion of  the  Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception.  As  to  his  poli- 
tics, he  declares  himself  the  servant  of  the  people,  and  consequently 
not  able  to  pay  much  attention  to  such  matters.  A  strict  disciplin- 
arian, a  thorough  performer  of  every  duty,  there  are  few  more 
trusted  and  none  more  highly  esteemed  or  popular  members  of  the 
Chicago  detective  service  than  Mr.  Michael  Langan. 


JAMES  MCENERNY. 


One  of  the  most  prominent  as  well  as  popular  young  Irish  Amer- 
ican lawyers  in  this  city  is  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  who 
is  a  man  of  considerable  legal  ability,  exceptional  tact,  and  inde- 
fatigable energy. 

James  McEnerny  was  born  May  18th,  I860)  at  London,  Madison 
County,  O.  He  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Ann  McEnerny,  his 
father  being  a  native  of  County  Limerick,  Ireland,  born  there  in 
April,  1833,  and  his  mother  from  County  Cork.  They  were  married 
in  1856,  the  mother  having  come  to  the  United  States  in  1853,  and 
her  husband  the  year  following.  The  latter  died  March,  1888,  leav- 


464  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

ing  three  boys — Thomas,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
volume;  James;  and  Honore;  the  eldest  son,  John,  having  died 
in  1886 — and  four  girls — Catherine;  Johanna;  Michael;  and  Mary. 
The  father  of  Thomas  McEtoerny,  Sr.,  was  John  McEnerny,  a  large 
and  most  successful  farmer,  one  of  the  most  extensive  landed  pro- 
prietors and  most  popular  men  in  the  Parish  of  Fena,  County  Lim- 
erick. When  he  died  he  left  the  family  well  provided  for,  and 
Thomas  McEnerny  decided  to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  United  States. 

He  came  to  London,  Ohio,  in  1855,  where  he  remained  eight 
years,  and  then  moved  to  the  northwestern  portion  of  the  same 
State,  near  Toledo,  in  both  places  following  his  occupation  as  a 
farmer  until  his  death. 

James  McEnerny  was  educated  in  the  North  Western  Normal 
College  at  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  whence  he  graduated  in  1883.  He  then 
at  once  came  to  Chicago,  and  began  to  study  at  the  Union  College 
of  Law,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1886,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar.  He  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  with  the  Hon. 
J.  M.  Longnecker,  and  at  the  end  of  his  first  year,  in  1887,  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  last  named  Assistant  State's  Attorney.  In  this 
capacity  he  served  for  a  year  and  a  half,  after  which  he  associated 
himself  with  his  brother  Thomas,  under  the  law  firm  name  of  Mc- 
Enerny Brothers.  The  partnership  was  dissolved  in  the  spring 
of  1893,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  went  into  business  alone  un- 
til May,  1896,  when  the  two  brothers  once  more  decided  to  amalga- 
mate and  are  now  successfully  practicing  the  legal  profession  in 
all  its  branches. 

Mr.  McEnemy  was  married,  June,  1890,  to  Miss  Florence  Hen- 
nessy,  the  daughter  of  one  of  Chicago's  most  prominent  citizens, 
and  one  of  whose  sisters  is  married  to  Hon.  J.  F.  Finerty.  She  is, 
like  her  husband,  possessed  of  great  social  qualities,  and  their 
charming  home  is  a  delightful  rendezvous  for  their  multitude  of 
friends. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  465 

With  public  enterprises  Mr.  McEnerny  has  always  been  in.  great 
demand.  In  1886  he  was  Secretary  of  the  Bazaar  held  in  the  old 
Exposition  Building  on  the  Lake  Front,  for  the  benefit  of  the  St. 
Joseph's  Orphan  Asylum,  and  which  was  instrumental  in  obtain- 
ing the  funds  to  build  that  asylum.  He  is  the  representative  for 
Chicago  of  their  International  Progressive  Association,  and  an 
active  member  of  the  Hyde  Park  Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias,  for 
the  past  five  years,  having  held  the  office  of  Prelate  and  Vice-Chan- 
cellor. He  was  also  a  member,  in  1887,  of  the  OaJdands  Company, 
a  city  military  organization. 

In  his  religious  views  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  while  in  politics, 
belongs  to  the  Independent  Democrats,  claiming  the  right  to  vote 
for  the  man  of  his  choice  entirely  irrespective  of  party.  He  was 
honored  in  the  election  to  the  oflice  of  Keeper  of  Records  and  Seals, 
but  resigned. 

With  sympathies  thoroughly  devoted  to  the  land  of  his  fathers, 
he  is  a  true  American  in  all  his  ideas  and  feelings,  honoring  its  in- 
stitutions and  rejoicing  in  its  noble  freedom.  Still  in  his  early 
manhood,  he  has  already  demonstrated  the  possession  of  such  qual- 
ities as  should  make  for  him  a  high  place  in  any  community. 


JOHN   J.  MAHONEY. 


John  J.  Mahoney  was  born  in  Chicago,  November  5th,  1854. 
His  parents,  Patrick  and  Julia  (Conlin)  Mahoney,  came  from  Lim- 
erick, Ireland,  to  the  United  States  in  1849,  settling  first  at  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  and  then  after  a  short  time  moved  to  Chicago,  where 

the  father  died  in  1864,  and  the  mother  in  1865. 
24 


466  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

Mr.  John  J.  Mahoney  attended  the  public  schools  of  Chicago 
until  he  was  eleven  years  of  age,  when  he  began  to  learn  the  paint- 
er's trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  ten  years.  At  the  end  of  that 
time  he  was  appointed  foreman  painter  of  the  Cook  County  Hos- 
pital and  afterwards  its  custodian,  holding  the  two  positions  fifteen 

years. 

In  December,  1891,  he  obtained  the  important  position  of  Cash- 
ier of  the  Probate  Court,  which  he  still  retains.  Mr.  Mahoney  is  of 
an  ambitious  disposition,  and  the  idea  of  plodding  along  all  of  his 
life  as  a  clerk  was  extremely  distasteful.  The  educational  advan- 
tages he  had  received  in  his  youth  were  not  great,  so  he  now  de- 
termined to  attend  night  school.  Having  done  this,  he  afterwards 
took  a  course  of  law  at  the  Kent  Night  School,  from  which  he  grad- 
uated and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1895.  All  this  he  was  able 
to  accomplish  while  carrying  out  his  employment  during  the  day. 

From  a  mere  youth,  politics  had  always  been  to  him  a  subject 
of  great  interest,  and  also  all  that  affected  the  cause  of  oppressed 
Ireland.  His  political  views  were  those  of  the  Republican  party. 

While  engaged  in  his  trade  as  a  painter  he  made  himself  very 
prominent  in  labor  circles,  being  at  one  time  President  of  the  local 
assembly  of  Knights  of  Labor,  and  as  a  Delegate  has  attended  all 
of  the  conventions  of  that  body  held  during  the  last  five  or  six 
years.  Mr.  J.  J.  Mahoney  is  President  of  the  United  Irish  Societies 
of  Chicago,  having  succeeded  the  Hon.  J.  F.  Finerty  in  that  im- 
portant office.  Having  served  two  years,  in  June,  1885,  he  was  re- 
elected.  He  is  also  prominently  connected  with  the  National 
Union;  the  Catholic  Benevolent  Legion;  Order  of  Red  Men;  and  a 
number  of  labor  organizations,  as  well  as  the  Irish  Literary  Club. 

Mr.  Mahoney  is  entirely  a  self-made  man  and  one  well  worthy 
of  the  respect  and  esteem  which  his  fellow  citizens  and  countrymen 
delight  to  show  towards  him.  At  the  outcome  of  his  career,  his  sole 
advantage  was  an  enterprising  and  indomitable  spirit  and  that 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  467 

best  essential  of  success,  an  independence  of  character  no  diffi- 
culties could  daunt.  The  reputation  he  has  achieved  and  the  posi- 
tion he  has  gained  among  the  American  Irish  of  Chicago  should 
be  a  source  of  honest  pride  to  any  man. 


MICHAEL  GEORGE  McGEE. 


Living  in  Chicago  to-day  there  is  no  young  Irishman  who  de- 
serves more  credit  for  what  he  has  accomplished  by  pluck,  energy 
and  perseverance  than  does  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  Mr. 
M.  G.  McGee.  Born  in  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  Christmas  Day, 
1869,  his  parents  were  Charles  and  Catherine  (McLaughlin)  McGee. 
The  father  was  by  occupation  a  farmer  and  one  of  the  largest  stock 
raisers  in  that  part  of  the  country,  being  also  engaged  largely  in 
the  teaming  business  and  live  stock  shipping.  He  is  now  living 
in  Chicago;  but  his  mother,  who  came  of  a  well-to-do  family  from 
the  same  section  of  Ireland,  died  in  1891. 

Michael  George  McGee  attended  the  national  school  of  Glendon 
until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  with  his  parents  he  came 
to  the  New  World  and  a  permanent  location  was  made  in  Chicago. 
Upon  his  arrival,  Mr.  McGee  went  to  work  in  a  cooper's  establish- 
ment, where  he  remained  for  two  years,  and  then,  for  another 
twelve  months,  was  employed  in  a  furniture  factory.  The  latter 
was  left  to  accept  a  position  as  time-keeper  with  his  brother,  a  large 
contractor,  who  had  been  in  Chicago  for  some  years,  and  this  place 
he  held  for  four  years. 

In  1886  he  entered  the  employ  of  George  Brown,  a  butcher,  with 


468  BIOGRAPHICAL,   HISTORY    OP    THE 

the  intention  of  learning  the  business;  he  was  with  him  but  nine 
months  when,  believing  he  had  obtained  sufficient  practical  ex- 
perience, he  embarked  in  business  for  himself.  His  success  has 
been  rapid  and  considerable,  and  he  is  now  the  proprietor  of  the 
largest  business  of  the  kind  on  the  north  side,  employing  eight  men 
and  with  a  trade  of  at  least  two  thousand  dollars  a  week.  Full  of 
enterprise  and  anxious  to  improve  his  financial  condition,  he  last 
summer  took  up,  in  addition,  the  ice  business,  and  of  this  also  he 
has  made  a  great  success. 

Mr.  McGee  was  married,  December,  1895,  to  Miss  Hetty  Croke, 
of  Chicago.  In  religious  matters  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  be- 
longs to  the  congregation  of  the  Holy  Name;  while  of  social  or- 
ganizations he  is  a  member  of  the  Columbus  and  Waubansia  Clubs. 

With  strong  leanings  towards  the  Democratic  party,  Mr.  McGee 
reserves  the  right  to  vote  for  the  best  man  and  for  what  he  con- 
siders the  best  measures,  and  his  ideas  in  this  direction  during 
the  last  Presidential  election  led  him  to  support  sound  money  prin- 
ciples. 


JOHN   NAGHTEN. 


The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  is  one  of  the  best 
known  Irishmen,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  familiar  figures  on 
Chicago's  busy  streets.  He  may  not  have  earned  the  distinction  of 
"early  settler"  as  Mr.  Fernando  Jones  uses  that  term,  but  over 
forty  years  in  Chicago,  thirty-five  of  which  have  been  spent  in  the 
same  business  of  insurance,  will  at  least  entitle  him  to  a  place 
among  its  representative  citizens,  as  he  assuredly  is  one  of  its  vet- 
eran insurance  men. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  469 

John  Naghten  conies  of  true  Milesian  stock,  and  it  has  been  a 
pleasing  gratification  to  him  in  his  antiquarian  reading — books 
with  old  type,  illuminated  letterings  and  ancient  bindings  have  a 
rarely  magnetic  influence  over  him — to  trace  back  the  family's  for- 
tunes and  vicissitudes  to  the  time  in  the  fourteenth  century  when 
his  ancestors  were  among  the  chiefs  of  the  County  of  Roscommon, 
as  Edmund  Hogan,  priest  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  describes  in  the 
description  of  Ireland  in  1598,  and  also  in  the  book,  "The  Tribes 
and  Customs  of  Hy-many,"  by  John  O'Donovan. 

He  was  born  in  the  Parish  of  Kiltoom,  County  of  Roscommon, 
Ireland,  in  1831.  His  father,  Michael,  who  married  Bridget  Kelly, 
was  agent  in  Roscommon  to  a  number  of  estates.  John  Naghten 
obtained  his  earliest  education  from  a  visiting  tutor,  but  later  he 
attended  the  national  schools  for  a  short  time,  and  was  then  sent 
to  an  academy  in  Roscommon,  but  his  schooling  came  to  a  sudden 
stop  owing  to  an  outbreak  of  a  violent  epidemic  of  spotted  fever 
in  the  town,  which  was  most  malignant  in  its  effects. 

Fascinated  by  the  glorious  freedom  of  the  Western  world,  ap- 
pealing perhaps  more  forcibly  to  the  Irishman,  owing  to  the  differ- 
ent conditions  which  obtained  in  his  native  land,  young  Naghten 
started  alone  to  America  in  October,  1847.  All  he  kneAV  of  the 
land  he  was  going  to  was  as  a  refuge  for  the  oppressed,  and  a  na- 
tion where  life,  liberty  and  a  chance  for  happiness  were  open  to  all 
men  alike,  irrespective  of  birth,  religion  or  social  distinctions.  He 
knew  he  had  an  uncle,  John  Kelly,  at  NeAA"  Orleans — by  the  way, 
he  is  now  a  banker  at  Norfolk,  Va. — but  to  him  New  Orleans  was 
a  very  dim  realization.  The  sea  voyage  in  those  days  was  a  terrible 
one,  taking  as  many  weeks  as  now  days  are  consumed  in  the  trip. 
At  last  Philadelphia  was  reached  and  a  situation  found  in  a  gen- 
eral store  in  one  of  the  mining  districts  near  Reading,  Pennsyl- 
vania. In  1856  he  decided  to  come  to  Chicago  and  soon  found  em- 
ployment as  clerk  and  book-keeper  in  the  insurance  office  of  W. 


470  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

D.  Smith.  For  a  short  time  he  changed  his  occupation  to  act  as 
book-keeper  in  a  wholesale  commission  house  on  South  Water 
Street,  but  he  soon  returned  to  the  business  of  insurance.  In  May, 
1863,  with  the  organization  of  the  Merchants?  Insurance  Company, 
he  became  associated  with  that  institution,  and  in  1866  was  ap- 
pointed its  Assistant  Secretary,  a  position  which  he  held  up  to  the 
time  of  the  great  fire  of  1871.  The  ravages  of  that  terrible  event 
in  Chicago's  history  having  been  partly  repaired,  Mr.  Naghten  was, 
on  the  reorganization  of  the  Traders'  Insurance  Company,  appoint- 
ed Assistant  Secretary  of  the  company,  in  which  position  he  re- 
mained until  1873,  when  a  co-partnership  was  formed  with  Wil- 
liam E.  Kollo,  under  the  title  of  Rollo,  Naghten  &  Company.  In 
1877  he  was  appointed  General  Agent  of  the  Commercial  Insurance 
Company  of  New  York.  In  1880  he  associated  with  him  his  son. 
M.  J.  Naghten,  and  his  son-in-law,  M.  F.  Scannell,  founding  the 
firm  John  Naghten  &  Company,  of  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
is  the  senior  member. 

Mr.  Scannell  died  in  1894,  and  John  Naghten  and  his  son  now 
carry  on  the  business,  two  other  sons  being  engaged  respectively 
as  cashier  and  clerk.  The  firm  of  late  years  has  given  up  general 
agency  business,  confining  itself  to  local  work. 

Mr.  John  Naghteii  is  deservedly  proud  of  his  insurance  record, 
for  with  a  continuous  experience  of  over  thirty-eight  years  he 
may  well  claim  to  be  one  of  the  oldest  insurance  men  to-day  in 
Chicago. 

He  was  married  to  Bridget  Mary  Byrne,  daughter  of  Terrence. 
Byrne,  of  Kilkenny,  Ireland.  She  had  come  to  America,  in  1845, 
to  stay  with  an  uncle  who  was  a  farmer  in  Pennsylvania.  Eight 
children  have  been  born  to  them — four  sons  and  four  daughters. 
Of  these,  the  sons  all  received  their  education  at  the  Jesuit  Col- 
lege, while  the  daughters  were  sent  to  the  Convent  of  the  Sacred 
Heart,  for  Mr.  Naghten  and  his  wife  are  devoted  Catholics,  and  he 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN   CHICAGO.  471 

was  indeed  one  of  the  earliest  parishioners  of  the  parisli  of  St.  Jar- 
lath,  contributing  liberally  too  to  the  building  of  that  substantial 
and  handsome  structure.  The  children  are:  Mary,  now  the  wife 
of  Mr.  Thomas  Brenan,  merchant  on  South  Water  Street,  and  the 
mother  of  seven  children;  Annie,  is  the  widow  of  M.  F.  Scaumell, 
who  was  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  John  Naghteu  &  Company,  to  them 
were  born  five  children ;  Michael  J.,  married  to  Miss  Helena  O'Meara, 
of  Chicago,  and  junior  partner  in  the  firm  of  John  Naghten  &  Com- 
pany; Katie,  wife  of  Theodore  Schnell,  who  is  with  Armour  &  Co., 
at  Chicago  (they  have  five  children);  and  John,  Jr.,  who  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  John  Mullen,  Esq.,  of  Chicago,  who  died  in  Jan- 
uary, 1896,  leaving  one  son ;  John  Naghten,  Jr.,  is  in  the  gents'  fur- 
nishing and  tailoring  business  on  Dearborn  Street;  James  resides 
with  his  parents  and  is  cashier  in  the  office  of  John  Naghten  & 
Company;  Helen  is  the  youngest  daughter  and  lives  at  home,  and 
the  youngest  son,  Frank,  who  is  also  engaged  in  the  office  of  John 
Naghten  &  Company,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Sheridan  and  Colum- 
bus dubs. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Naghten  went  abroad  for  four  months,  in  1880, 
visiting  the  old  home,  in  Ireland,  and  also  traveled  in  Great  Britain 
and  France.  Though  essentially  a  home  loving  man,  Mr.  Naghten 
is  a  member  of  and  a  frequent  visitor  to  the  well  known  Columbus 
Club.  His  passion  for  books  has  been  before  referred  to.  He  is  an 
omnivorous  reader,  a  man  of  splendid  information,  and  at  all  times 
a  charming  companion.  An  Irishman  always,  he  is  not  an  advocate 
for  extreme  measures.  His  greatest  happiness  possibly  is  to  sit 
in  his  splendid  library — one  of  the  finest  private  labraries  in  Chi- 
cago— and  converse  with  some  congenial  companion  on  Irish  af- 
fairs, Ireland's  wrongs,  the  sufferings  of  his  countrymen,  the  noble 
deeds  many  have  achieved,  and  the  terrible  mistakes  some  of  the 
leaders  have  committed  and  tolerated. 


472  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 


FRANCIS  H.  MORGAN. 

The  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  a  well-known  and  very  popu- 
lar young  Irishman,  was  born  in  County  Roscominon  in  1866,  and 
came  to  this  country  in  1881.  Of  his  parents,  Patrick  and  Mary 
(Flynu)  Morgan,  the  father,  who  was  a  farmer,  died  in  1885,  while 
his  mother,  now  well  on  in  years,  for  at  this  writing  she  is  seventy- 
six  years  old,  lives  in  the  old  home  in  Ireland. 

Francis  H.  Morgan  received  his  education  in  the  National 
schools  of  County  Leitrim,  from  which  he  graduated  immediately 
preliminary  to  his  setting  out  for  this  country.  He  first  settled 
in  Indiana,  but  soon  afterwards  came  to  Chicago  and  learned  his 
trade  as  a  machinist  and  engineer  with  the  Illinois  Steel  Company. 
That  engagement  he  held  for  eight  years,  when  he  became  chief 
engineer  for  Kohn  Bros.,  the  wholesale  clothiers,  which  position 
he  held  until  Judge  Payne  was  elected  to  the  bencli.  The  latter 
called  on  Mr.  Morgan  to  become  his  private  deputy,  and  in  this  posi- 
tion of  responsibility  he  has  remained  for  the  past  four  years,  and  is 
unquestionably  as  efficient  and  as  well  liked  an  officer  as  there  is  to- 
day in  the  public  service. 

Mr.  Morgan  was  married  in  this  city  in  1888,  to  Maria  Byrne,  a 
sister  of  Captain  Byrne,  the  well-known  member  of  the  Chicago 
police  force.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morgan  have  an  interesting  young  fam- 
ily of  four  children,  two  boys  and  two  girls,  who  have  been  named, 
respectively,  Francis,  Lawrence,  Margarette  and  Catherine. 

Mr.  Morgan  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Seventh  Regiment  Illinois  National  Guard,  as  well  as  of 
all  the  Irish  organizations,  in  the  latter  having  held  various  high 
offices. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  475 

A  gentleman  of  charming  manner,  well  set  up,  good-looking, 
generous  and  free,  a  wonderful  favorite  among  his  business  asso- 
ciates, as  well  as  Avith  his  every-day  acquaintances,  no  better  rep- 
resentative of  the  Irishman  can  be  found  in  the  west  than  the  young 
scion  from  Connaught,  Francis  H.  Morgan. 


FRANCIS  C.  NEAGLE. 


Francis  C.  Neagle,  who  died  in  Chicago,  June  22nd,  1895,  was 
pre-eminently  a  self-made  man,  and  one  who  by  his  many  high  qual- 
ities of  head  and  heart,  had  obtained,  the  respect  and  esteem  not 
only  of  his  fellow  Irishmen,  but  of  every  one  with  whom  he  was 
brought  into  contact.  His  energy,  his  perseverance,  and  indomi- 
table strength  of  character,  together  with  an  habitual  frugality 
and  an  unusual  amount  of  prudent  foresight  and  good  common 
sense,  achieved  for  him  a  lasting  reputation  among  his  fellow  citi- 
zens of  Chicago.  As  to  his  history,  the  following  extract  from 
"The  National  Builder"  well  speaks: 

"He  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  at  the  age  of  twelve  was  articled 
to  the  carpenter's  trade,  in  which  he  soon  became  a  skilled  work- 
man. Having  at  twenty  years  of  age  mastered  his  trade,  he  emi- 
grated to  New  York,  and  at  once  found  steady  employment. 

In  1855  he  married,  and  as  the  cry  of  the  empire  was  westward, 
he  sought  out  new  fields  in  Chicago.  His  perfect  knowledge  of  the 
building  business  was  soon  recognized  by  the  leading  architects 
and  contractors  of  Chicago,  and  in  1856  he  was  persuaded  to  com- 


476  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

mence  operations  for  himself.  Since  that  date  Mr.  Neagie  has  beeii 
well  and  favorably  known  to  the  architect  and  building  fraternity 
of  Chicago,  and  his  work  has  extended  all  over  the  West. 

Mr.  Neagie  was  a  self-made  and  honorable  man.  He  battled 
through  adversity  and  difficulties  to  success  and  prosperity.  His 
well  known  honesty  of  purpose  and  rugged  determination  to  at- 
tain a  place  in  his  chosen  profession  gained  him  many  friends,  who 
rendered  him  valuable  assistance  throughout  his  life.  He  sur- 
mounted obstacles  which  to  other  men  would  have  brought  defeat, 
and  finally  lived  to  become  the  head  of  an  establishment  the  men- 
tion of  which  is  a  guarantee  of  honest  dealing  and  reliable  business 
methods. 

At  the  time  of  his  death  Mr.  Neagie  was  an  officer  of  the  Build- 
ers' and  Traders'  Exchange  of  Chicago,  of  which  association  he  had 
been  for  several  years  a  member.  A  special  meeting  of  the  Ex- 
change was  held  June  24th,  1895,  when  suitable  resolutions  were 
passed  to  the  memory  of  the  deceased,  which  were  ordered  spread 
upon  the  minutes  and  a  copy  sent  to  his  bereaved  family." 

RESOLUTIONS. 

A  deep  sorrow  has  befallen  the  family  of  one  of  our  most 
esteemed  and  honored  members. 

Since  the  year  1856  to  the  time  of  his  demise,  Mr.  F.  C.  Neagie 
was  actively  engaged  in  the  building  business  in  Chicago,  and  the 
honorable  position  which  he  attained  is  a  lasting  monument  to  his 
energy,  integrity  and  high  order  of  ability. 

As  a  member  of  our  Exchange  he  was  always  identified  with 
those  whose  best  efforts  were  put  forth  to  build  up  and  sustain  the 
Exchange  and  place  it  in  the  high  position  it  now  holds;  as  an 
officer  he  was  always  faithful  to  every  trust,  and  as  a  friend  and 
adviser  was  always  kind  and  generous. 

To  the  family  of  our  deceased  friend  and  member  we  offer  our 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  477 

sincere  sympathy  and  condolence,  and  ask  of  them  that  in  their 
deep  affliction  they  think  only  of  the  reward  awaiting  one  who  has 
lived  such  a  life  as  did  the  husband  and  father,  whose  loss  you 
mourn. 

MURDOCH  CAMPBELL, 
JOHN  KAWLE, 
GEORGE  TAPPER, 
FRANK  CONRICK, 

Committee. 


JOHN   J.   OWENS. 


John  J.  Owens,  the  well  known  military  and  society  regalia 
supply  merchant,  is  a  native  of  Chicago,  being  born  in  this  city, 
April  22d,  1864.  His  father,  Patrick  Owens,  was  a  native  of  County 
Wexford,  Ireland,  which  he  left  in  1853  in  company  with  the  late 
Rev.  Father  Conway,  who  for  several  years  was  vicar  general  of 
the  diocese.  In  his  native  laud  Mr.  Owens  had  been  a  commission 
merchant,  and  he  followed  the  same  business  after  coming  to  Chi- 
cago. During  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  he  did  citizen's  duty,  and 
served  in  the  commissary  department.  His  wife,  the  mother  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  also  a  native  of  Ireland. 

John  J.  Owens  was  educated  in  the  parochial  schools  of  this 
city,  leaving  at  the  early  age  of  eleven  years  to  become  a  cash  boy 
for  Field,  Leiter  &  Co.  He  was  a  bright  and  industrious  boy  and 
was  quickly  advanced  to  the  position  of  salesman,  remaining  with 
that  firm  for  nine  years.  He  then  accepted  a  position  in  a  boot 
and  shoe  manufactory  and  became  so  thoroughly  proficient  in 


478  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

every  detail  of  the  business  that  after  twelve  months  he  was  made 
Assistant  Superintendent,  and  in  that  business  he  remained  for 
six  years.  The  trade  at  that  time  began  to  decline,  and  Mr.  Owens 
being  a  well  known  member  of  various  societies  and  devoting  much 
of  his  time  to  their  benefit  and  advancement,  was  called  upon  by 
the  largest  firm  in  Chicago  then  manufacturing  society  regalias 
and  other  necessities  of  that  description,  to  take  charge  of  the  two 
most  important  departments,  the  military  and  the  Kornan  Cath- 
olic. In  that  capacity  he  stayed  with  the  house  for  three  years, 
and  then,  November  1st,  1894,  branched  out  for  himself,  organiz- 
ing the  now  well  known  company  of  John  J.  Owens  &  Co.,  which 
deals  in  military  and  society  supplies  of  all  kinds  and  descriptions. 
The  firm  has  since  met  with  steady  and  indeed  rapid  success,  and 
is  now  doing  business  all  over  the  United  States. 

For  thirteen  years,  from  1883  to  1896,  Mr.  Owens  served  in  the 
State  Militia,  filling  during  those  years  several  different  commis- 
sions, and  at  the  present  time  he  holds  the  highest  office,  Adjutant 
General  of  the  Uniform  Rank  of  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  and 
Colonel  commanding  the  Department  of  Illinois.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Royal  League,  the  Columbian  Knights,  a  charter 
member  of  the  Columbus  Mutual  Life  Association,  and  is  connect- 
ed with  many  other  organizations. 

Mr.  Owens  is  a  Roman  Catholic  in  his  religion,  although  his 
views  are  broad  and  liberal.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  was 
married,  in  1889,  to  Annie  A.  Kenney,  of  Chicago,  daughter  of 
Michael  Kenney,  general  yardmaster  for  Pennsylvania  Railroad. 
They  have  two  children,  both  boys. 

Mr.  Owens  has  at  all  times  taken  great  interest  in  military 
affairs,  making  them  in  fact  his  chief  object  of  study  and  so  master- 
ing every  detail,  not  only  from  a  natural  taste  in  that  direction, 
but  also  that  he  might  acquire  a  thorough  proficiency  in  his  busi- 
ness. Indeed,  as  is  evident  even  from  this  brief  sketch,  thorough- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  479 

ness  has  been  one  of  Mr.  Owens'  most  prominent  characteristics. 
No  rolling  stone,  he  has  evinced  exceptional  perseverance  and 
patience,  as  well  as  talent,  in  every  position  which  he  has  been 
called  upon  to  take  np.  Outside  of  his  business,  and  his  interest 
in  some  of  the  special  organizations  mentioned,  his  tastes  are  do- 
mestic; he  is  of  a  modest  and  unassuming  disposition  and  has 
never  aspired  to  public  office,  having  a  strong  feeling  against  no- 
toriety of  any  kind. 


PATRICK  JOHN   WALL. 

Patrick  John  Wall,  the  well  known  ex-Alderman  of  the  Fifth 
Ward,  was  born  in  County  Tipperary,  Ireland,  June  18th,  1844.  His 
parents  were  Michael  and  Mary  (Keating)  Wall,  both  natives  of  Tip- 
perary, where  the  first  named  was  a  stone  mason,  who,  having  been 
closely  associated  with  the  Irish  uprising  in  1848,  came  to  Chicago 
in  1852.  He  died  in  this  city  in  1868,  his  wife  following  him  in 
1892. 

Patrick  John  Wall  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
and  later  at  that  of  the  Christian  Brothers,  leaving  the  latter  at 
eighteen  to  go  forth  into  the  world  and  endeavor  to  make  a  name 
for  himself.  In  his  first  employment  with  the  Illinois  Stone  Co.,  he 
remained  for  ten  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  left  to  engage 
in  the  stone  contracting  business  on  his  own  account.  Four  years 
later  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Simon  Coughlin,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Simon  Coughlin  &  Co.,  and  they  engaged  in  the  gravel 
roof  business,  in  which  he  still  remains. 

From  his  very  early  manhood  Patrick  J.  Wall  has  taken  a  great 
interest  in  Democratic  politics,  and  has  long  been  recognized  as 


480  BIOGRAPHICAL.  HISTORY    OP    THE 

one  of  the  leaders  of  his  ward — the  Fifth.  He  has  also  been  Dele- 
gate to  majiy  conventions,  and  in  April,  1891,  was  elected  to  the 
City  Council  and  served  two  terms  of  two  years  each.  At  the  con- 
vention held  in  September,  1896,  he  was  given  the  nomination  to 
represent  the  Third  Congressional  District  in  the  Board  of  Equali- 
zation. 

He  was  married  to  Ellen  Haynes,  of  Chicago,  April  4th,  1869, 
and  they  have  had  ten  children,  of  whom  seven  are  living. 

In  his  religious  views  Mr.  Wall  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a  reg- 
ular attendant  at  All  Saints'  Church. 

Mr.  Wall  is  one  of  the  best  known  as  well  as  one  of  the  most 
highly  respected  citizens  of  this  great  city.  No  reproach  has  ever 
rested  on  his  good  name;  he  has  struggled  for  the  interest  of  Chi- 
cago and  Chicagoans  and  unselfishly  and  unsparingly  has  taken  his 
part  in  its  city  government.  He  is  indeed  an  American  Irishman, 
of  whom  both  the  land  of  his  birth  and  the  country  of  his  adoption 
have  every  reason  to  be  proud. 


JOHN   MYERS  O'HARA. 


John  Myers  O'Hara,  who  is  known  in  business  life  as  Jno.  J. 
O'Hara^  is  a  young  Irish  American  lawyer  who,  in  addition  to  a 
high  place  in  his  profession,  is  winning  considerable  renown  as  a 
poet  He  was  born  March  25th,  1870,  at  Cedar  Eapids,  Iowa,  his 
parents  being  John  and  Alice  (Myers)  O'Hara.  The  father,  a  native 
of  Vermont,  who  was  early  engaged  in  railroad  contracting,  then 
came  west  and  became  prominent  and  wealthy.  For  years  he  was 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  481 

the  chief  railroad  contractor  for  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul 
and  Chicago  &  North  Western  Railroads,  and  constructed  the 
greater  part  of  both  these  roads.  He  came  of  a  prominent  County 
Sligo,  Ireland,  family,  his  father  having  arrived  in  the  United  States 
about  the  year  1830,  when  he  located  in  New  York  State  and  later 
removed  to  Vermont.  John  O'Hara  took  part  in  the  war,  enlist- 
ing in  the  127th  Wisconsin  Volunteers,  became  a  captain,  and  at 
the  end  of  two  years  was  honorably  discharged  on  account  of  sick- 
ness. 

The  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  John  Myers  O'Hara,  in  his 
youth  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town — Cedar  Rap- 
ids, Iowa — and  later,  in  1883,  when  his  parents  moved  to  Chicago, 
he  came  with  them  and  attended  the  Jesuit  College  on  the  west 
side.  In  1880  he  entered  the  Northwestern  University  Law  School, 
graduating  there  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  and  being  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1892.  An  office  was  at  once  opened  and  the  practice  of 
hia  chosen  profession  begun,  with  very  gratifying  results,  for  he 
is  already  in  possession  of  a  very  good  general  practice. 

Although  so  young  a  man,  Mr.  O'Hara  has  obtained  consider- 
able fame  as  a  poet,  two  books  of  his  having  been  published,  "Sou- 
nets  and  other  Poems,"  and  "Twilight  Songs,"  and  both  have  been 
received  with  great  praise  and  many  favorable  press  comments 
from  all  sections  of  the  country.  In  this  latter  regard  may  be  men- 
tioned extracts  from  the  notices  on  "Twilight  Songs,"  given  in  the 
Chicago  "Citizen"  and  the  "New  World."  The  former  said:  "In 
this  dainty  little  volume  Mr.  O'Hara,  who  is  a  Chicago  poet,  gives 
the  public  the  maiden  efforts  of  his  muse.  Like  all  such  efforts  they 
reveal  occasional  irregularities  of  meter  and  forced  rhyme;  but 
'The  Citizen'  is  glad  to  add  that  these  imperfections  are  likely  to 
be  removed,  in  the  course  of  time,  by  the  author's  growing  knowl- 
edge and  experience.  His  verses  are  of  a  finely-spun  texture  and 
bespeak  the  scholar  as  well  as  the  cosmopolitan."  The  "New 


482  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

World"  speaks  thus  of  the  same  book:  "This  is  the  brief  title  of 
a  pretty  little  volume  sent  us  several  weeks  ago  by  the  author,  Mr. 
John  Myers  O'Hara,  of  this  city.  It  is  a  quaint  as  well  as  a  pretty 
volume,  into  which  Mr.  O'Hara  has  gathered  many  a  beautiful 
theme,  beautifully  rendered.  Headers  of  the  'New  World'  are 
not  unfamiliar  with  this  young  poet's  sonnets,  and  his  successful 
interpretation  of  magic  thoughts  in  that  most  difficult  form  of 
poetic  speech  entitles  him  to  rank  as  an  artist,  even  if  no  other 
sign  of  his  varied  gifts  were  apparent.  But  in  this  slender  volume, 
besides  the  score  of  love  sonnets  and  those  of  more  worthy  and 
ambitious  themes,  such  as  'Faith,'  'Cardinal  Newman,'  'Compensa- 
tion,' 'St.  Augustine,'  'Mendelssohn's  Spring  Song,'  and  that  ten- 
der tribute,  'Ad  Poetam,'  there  are  a  number  of  exquisite  lyrics 
that  almost  sing  themselves.  Among  the  latter  we  recognize  as 
brimful  of  nature's  melody  and  moods,  'Supreme  Spring,'  which 
is  a  succession  of  beautiful  pictures,  'Sweetheart,'  'Eros,'  'If  Love 
were  Dead,'  and  the  strange  lines,  'Disillusion,'  which  sadden  us 
in  the  ending.  It  is  good,  as  he  writes, 

'To  deem  more  sacred  voices  that  have  fanned 
Labor  with  music,  welcome  after  toil, 
Breathing  content  beneath  the  cottage  elm.' 

But  we  are  not  content  to  have  Mr.  O'Hara  one  of  the  humbler 
poets.  Men  and  women  still  have  immortal  souls,  and  the  world 
to-day  is  as  grand  a  battle-field  as  ever.  While  priest  prays  with 
uplifted  hands,  the  poet,  with  a  song  to  cheer  faint  hearts,  strikes 
the  harp  whose  sounds,  in  the  pauses  of  the  conflict,  lead  the  val- 
iant and  loyal  to  victory." 

Mr.  O'Hara  has  at  the  present  time  a  number  of  other  literary 
ventures,  and  if  the  promise  of  what  he  has  already  achieved  is  any 
criterion,  he  is  assured  of  a  high  place  in  American  literary  circles. 
He  has  traveled  much  in  the  United  States,  is  in  his  religious  ideas 
liberal,  and  in  his  political  views  is  a  staunch  Silver  Democrat. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN   CHICAGO.  483 


JOHN   FRANCIS   WALSH. 


John  Francis  Walsh  was  born  in  Chicago,  August  15th,  1844. 
His  parents,  John  R. — a  native  of  County  Cork — and  Ellen  (llenne- 
berry)  Walsh — of  Tipperary — both  came  from  Ireland  in  1835,  and 
coining  direct  to  Chicago,  were  among  the  old  settlers  of  this  city. 
Mrs.  Walsh  died  of  cholera  in  1849,  and  John  R,  Walsh,  in  1888. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  grad- 
uating from  the  high  school  of  this  city.  Schooling  over,  he  secured 
a  position  with  the  Illinois  Central  K.  R.  Co.,  and  was  in  their  em- 
ploy for  a  number  of  years,  beginning  as  errand  boy  and  advancing 
to  the  post  of  chief  clerk  of  the  local  freight  office. 

Having  held  this  position  for  some  time,  and  in  recognition  of 
his  faithful  service,  the  local  agency  of  the  road  at  Ashley,  Illinois, 
was  offered  to  him.  After  remaining  at  Ashley  four  years  a  further 
proof  of  the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  was  shown  by  the 
tender  to  him  by  the  company  of  the  position  of  general  freight 
agent  at  St.  Louis.  In  this  also  he  remained  four  years,  giving 
great  satisfaction  and  making  many  friends.  In  further  proof  of 
his  standing  with  the  Illinois  Central  R.  R.  Co.,  after  four  years 
of  service  at  St.  Louis,  he  was  called  to  Chicago  and  given  charge 
of  the  transfer  business  of  his  company,  a  position  of  very  great 
responsibility. 

Seventeen  years  of  service  with  the  Illinois  Central  R.  R.  Co. 
being  completed,  in  1889,  at  the  suggestion  of  many  merchants 
whose  friendship  he  had  acquired  while  in  charge  of  the  transfer 
business  of  the  railroad,  he  started  a  drayage  and  transfer  business 
for  himself.  Careful  in  Ms  habits,  conscientious  in  his  perfonn- 

25  < 


484  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

ances,  a  man  who  makes  no  enemies  and  has  never  lost  a  friend,  he 
has  been  able  to  build  up  a  large  and  lucrative  business,  employing 
forty  horses  to  conduct  it,  and  enjoying  the  support  of  many  of  the 
largest  business  houses  of  the  city. 

Mr.  Walsh  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Kennitt,  on  January 
15th,  1870,  and  they  have  had  eleven  children,  of  whom  seven  are 
living  and  four  are  dead. 

He  is  a  member  of  several  clubs,  among  others  The  401  Club — 
a  local  social  organization — and  is  also  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Catholic  Benevolent  Legion.  In  politics  he  is  a  Democrat  and 
takes  great  interest  in  the  political  matters  of  his  ward,  ais,  it  is  his 
creed,  is  the  duty  of  all  good  citizens. 

Mr.  Walsh  is  of  a  very  pleasing  personality,  genial  and 
good  natured,  thinking  no  labor  too  great  to  assist  a  friend  or  to 
help  those  in  need.  A  man  of  sound  business  principles,  by  his 
own  exertions  and  indomitable  pluck  he  has  been  able  to  push 
himself  step  by  step  to  an  honored  position,  high  in  the  estimation 
of  his  fellow  citizens. 


ANDREW  JAMES  O'CONNELL. 

Andrew  James  O'Connell  was  born  in  Chicago,  August  19th, 
1869,  his  parents  being  Thomas— whose  biography  appears  else- 
where in  this  work— and  Susan  (O'Laughliu)  O'Connell.  Mr.  O'Con- 
nell attended  the  St.  Pius  School  for  two  years,  going  thence  to  St. 
Patrick's  Commercial  Academy.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  se- 
cured a  position  as  profit  clerk  with  the  wholesale  grocery  house  of 
W.  J.  Quan  &  Co.,  remaining  there  two  years  and  resigning  to  ac- 
cept the  position  of  Assistant  Superintendent  of  the  Chicago  Union 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  485 

Lime  Works,  with  which  concern  he  stayed  four  years.  In  1892 
he  was  made  Superintendent  of  the  Artesian  Stone  Works  of  Chi- 
cago, purchased  by  his  father  and  brothers,  and  by  them  reorgan- 
ized in  1890.  Two  years  later  he  became  Vice-President  and  Man- 
ager, both  of  which  responsible  positions  he  holds  at  the  present 
time. 

Mr.  O'Connell  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Knights  of  Columbus. 
In  his  religious  views  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a  member  of  the 
congregation  of  the  Church  of  Our  Lady  of  Sorrows.  His  political 
opinions  and  affiliations  are  those  of  the  Democratic  party. 

Mr.  O'Conuell  was  united  in  marriage,  June  19th,  1895,  to  Clara 
A.  Berry,  a  native  of  Trenton,  N.  J.,  where  her  father  is  a  promi- 
nent citizen,  having  on  six  occasions  been  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Aldermen.  They  have  had  one  child,  a  boy. 

A  young  man  in  years,  Mr.  O'Connell  has  already  demonstrated 
the  possession  of  business  abilities  of  a  very  high  order  and  bears 
a  reputation  for  honorable  conduct  under  all  circumstances,  which 
gives  him  an  enviable  position  in  the  social  as  well  as  the  business 
communities  of  this  city. 


JOHN   W.  WALSH. 


John  W.  Walsh,  another  of  Chicago's  well-known  lawyers,  and 
who  though  still  a  young  man,  has  already  gained  quite  an  en- 
viable position  in  his  profession,  was  born  in  Peru,  La  Salle  County, 
111.,  June  15th,  1863.  His  parents,  John  and  Catliariue  Walsh, 
were  natives  of  different  parts  of  Ireland,  but  met  each  other  and 
married  at.  La  Sajle  County,  111.  Though  possessing  but  small  ad- 


486  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

vantages  in  the  way  of  education,  the  son  speaks  affectionately  of 
them  as  possessing  a  natural  refinement  of  character  and  disposi- 
tion far  superior  to  that  ordinarily  met  with  in  their  walk  of  life. 

John  W.  Walsh  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  La  Salle 
County  until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  when,  as  the  eldest  of 
ten  children,  he  had  to  help  in  the  support  of  the  others  and 
worked  at  all  manner  of  occupations  until  the  younger  members 
of  the  family  were  able  to  help  themselves.  Then,  when  twenty 
veal's  of  age,  he  spent  two  years  in  the  old  state  university,  paying 
his  own  way  and  supporting  himself  by  teaching  school.  The 
young  man  was  always  of  a  studious  disposition  and  good  habits, 
and  though  the  necessity  of  supporting  not  only  himself  but  also 
others  from  the  time  he  was  a  mere  boy  might  have  made  his  dis- 
position a  serious  one,  he  was  of  a  cheerful  optimistic  temper  and  at 
all  times  inclined  to  look  on  the  bright  side  of  affairs.  His  resources 
being  exhausted,  he  was  forced  to  leave  college  before  graduation 
and  to  devote  his  whole  time  to  teaching,  but  at  the  same  time 
everything  possible  was  done  by  him  to  prepare  himself  for  the 
law.  Three  years  were  passed  in  the  law  office  of  Senator  Duncan 
in  La  Salle  and  Chicago,  and  in  1889,  he  settled  in  this  city,  just 
three  months  before  his  admission  to  the  bar.  Since  that  time 
Mr.  Walsh  has  practiced  continuously  in  Chicago  on  his  own  ac- 
count, never  having  had  any  partner.  Among  many  particular 
cases  he  has  been  connected  with  might  be  mentioned  the  Clarke 
shirt,  litigation,  now  pending  in  the  Supreme  Court,  in  which  case 
Mr.  Walsh  has  acted  as  chief  counsel. 

Mr.  Walsh  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  the  Royal  League, 
and  the  Catholic  Benevolent  Legion,  being  in  the  latter  association 
a  member  of  the  Supreme  Council  and  representing  the  State  of 
Illinois  in  the  meeting  of  that  body  annually  in  New  York.  In 
his  political  views  he  is  an  old  line  Democrat,  a  believer  in  free 
trade  and  a  firm  advocate  of  sound  money. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN   CHICAGO.  487 

August  18th,  1890,  Mr.  Walsh  married  Miss  Julia  O'Neill  of  Chi- 
cago, and  they  have  two  children,  a  boy  and  a  girl.  He  is  of 
domestic  tastes  and  disposition  and  retains  those  studious  habits 
which  were  so  manifest  in  his  boyhood  united  with  .a  perseverance 
and  energy  which  have  enabled  him  to  overcome  so  many  obstacles 
in  the  past  and  to  look  forward  cheerfully  and  hopefully  to  the 
future. 


DR.   P.  H.   WELCH. 


Dr.  P.  H.  Welch,  the  well-known  and  popular  young  dentist, 
was  born  in  Wanpun,  Wis.,  July  22d,  1867.  His  father,  Martin 
Thomas,  as  also  his  mother,  Mary  Hinnigan  Welch,  were  natives 
of  County  Sligo,  Ireland;  they  came  to  this  country  in  the  early 
thirties,  settled  in  New  York  State,  were  married  at  Sing  Sing,  and 
came  west  about  1857. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a  public  school  education, 
and  afterwards  entered  the  Chicago  College  of  Dental  Surgery,  re- 
ceiving his  degree  at  Lake  Forest  University.  His  parents  dying 
when  he  was  quite  young,  he  came  to  Chicago  at  fourteen  years  of 
age,  and  played  basebaJl  professionally  in  order  to  obtain  the  means 
to  enter  college,  his  baseball  engagements  occupying  him  during 
the  summer  months  and  the  winter  being  devoted  to  his  studies. 
Even  in  the  summer,  however,  he  managed  to  find  some  time  for 
keeping  up  and  gaining  knowledge. 

In  his  profession  as  a  dentist,  Dr.  Welch  started  some  seven 
years  ago,  and  like  most  men  who  have  adopted  professions, 
whether  in  law,  medicine  or  dentistry,  he  found  it  a  pretty  hard 


488  BIOGRAPHICAL,   HISTORY    OF    THE 

struggle  for  several  years,  but  patience  and  perseverance  combined 
with  ability  overcame  all  difficulties  and  to-day,  for  so  young  a 
man,  Dr.  Welch  has  a  large  and  remunerative  practice. 

ITe  is  a  member  of  the  Sheridan  and  Columbus  Clubs,  of  the 
Royal  Arcanum  and  Knights  of  Columbus,  also  of  the  Desota  Club, 
of  the  Catholic  Benevolent  Legion  and  the  Odentographic  and  Chi- 
cago Dental  Societies.  He  has  traveled  extensively  over  the  United 
States,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  and  for  one  so  young  in 
years  is  a  man  of  ripe  information  and  much  knowledge. 

Dr.  Welch  is  a  Roman  Catholic  in  his  religious  views,  and  in 
his  political  opinions  is  independent.  He  married  November  llth, 
1896,  Irene  Cooke,  daughter  of  John  S.  Cooke  of  this  city.  Still 
fond  of  athletics  and  open  air  sports,  his  time  to  indulge  in  such 
recreations  is  now  limited.  Dr.  Welch  is  a  man  of  pleasing  person 
and  manners,  and  possesses  a  certain  curtness  which  evidences  that 
energy  and  decision  of  character  so  strongly  developed  in  his  career. 

Thomas  Martin  AVelch,  a  younger  brother,  is  following  the  same 
profession  in  Wanpun,  Wis.,  and  has  one  of  the  largest  practices 
in  his  state. 


JAMES   MCGARRY. 


James  McGarry  was  born  October  15th,  1859,  in  County  An- 
trim, in  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  is  the  son  of  Alexander  and  Ann 
(McGarry)  McGarry. 

Educated  in  the  parish  schools  of  his  native  place,  he  left,  at  the 
age  of  eighteen,  and  in  1881  came  to  the  United  States  and  on  to 
Chicago,  where  an  uncle,  D.  M.  McGarry,  was  engaged  in  the  team- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  489 

ing  business.  With  the  latter  James  McGarry  worked  for  eight 
years,  at  the  eud  of  which  time  he  thought  lie  was  fully  competent 
to  start  business  on  his  own  account.  The  result  has  fully  justified 
his  determination,  for  good  success  has  followed  his  efforts. 

He  was  married,  May  16th,  1895,  to  Ann  Custly,  a  native  of  his 
own  county  in  Ireland.  Mr.  McGarry  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a 
regular  attendant  of  St.  John's  Church.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  as  well  as  of  a  number  of  Irish  societies, 
and  in  politics  is  a  strong  advocate  of  the  principles  advanced  by 
Mr.  William  J.  Bryan. 


JAMES  JOSEPH  WALSH. 

Captain  James  Joseph  Walsh  was  born  April  20th,  1834,  in  Wex- 
ford,  Ireland,  where  his  father,  Lawrence  Walsh,  was  a  farmer. 
He  had  married  Anne  Ryan,  who  died  in  1873.  Lawrence  Walsh 
left  the  old  laud  for  Chicago  in  1848  and  took  up  the  business  of 
teaming  and  contracting  until  his  death  in  1877.  His  sou,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
town  until  he  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  when  he  began  to  learn  the 
moulder's  trade,  and  in  1848,  with  his  parents  he  came  to  Chicago. 
It  was  in  September,  1859,  that  he  became  regularly  attached  to 
the  Fire  Department  of  Chicago,  although  he  had  been  a  member 
of  the  old  volunteer  fire  department  for  some  time  before.  His 
first  assignment  was  as  a  pipeman  to  Engine  No.  2,  known  as  the 
Enterprise,  and  located  at  State  and  Harrison  Streets.  The  spring 
following,  his  former  experience  in  the  service  was  found  of  such1 
benefit  that  he  was  appointed  captain  of  the  company.  On  June 
16th,  1872,  he  was  transferred  to  Engine  No.  11  on  the  North  Side, 


490  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

the  following  December  to  No.  22,  in  March  of  1873  he  was  sent 
to  the  West  Side  to  organize  No.  20,  and  remained  there  until  April, 
1874,  when  he  was  sent  to  Engine  No.  9.  August,  1880,  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  No.  22,  located  on  Webster  Avenue  near  Larrabee 
Street,  and  there  he  has  remained  ever  since. 

He  was  married  to  Kate  Connelly  of  Chicago  in  1885,  and  they 
have  had  seven  children,  but  of  these  only  two  are  living. 

One  of  the  veterans  of  the  department,  for  not  above  twenty  of 
the  men  who  formed  the  service  when  he  joined  still  remain  in  it, 
Captain  James  Joseph  Walsh  is  a  man  of  very  agreeable  manner, 
always  pleasant  and  courteous.  A  strict  disciplinarian,  he  is 
absolutely  faithful  to  every  duty  of  his  position,  and  there  is  no 
man  in  the  Chicago  fire  service  who  is  more  highly  considered. 


DENNIS  W.  SULLIVAN. 


Dennis  W.  Sullivan,  who,  as  well  as  being  an  active  man  of 
affairs,  ranks  among  the  leaders  of  the  Chicago  bar,  was  born  in 
this  city  October  12th,  1864.  Of  his  parents,  Patrick  D.  and  Anne 
(Taylor)  Sullivan,  the  former  was  for  thirty  years  inspector  of 
private  drains  for  the  City  of  Chicago. 

Dennis  W.  Sullivan  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Chi- 
cago and  in  the  Chicago  College  of  Law7,  graduating  from  the  first 
in  1879,  and  from  the  latter  in  1891.  From  quite  an  early  age  he 
had  an  inclination  for  the  legal  profession,  even  in  his  school  days 
receiving  his  employment  during  vacations  from  Attorneys  Joseph 
Wright  and  Jesse  O.  Norton,  the  latter  of  whom  was  at  one  time 
corporation  counsel  of  Chicago.  His  regular  business  life  was 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  493 

commenced  iu  the  employ  of  the  Joseph  H.  Brown  Iron  &  Steel 
Company,  in  the  rolling  mill  located  at  South  Chicago,  with  which 
firm,  and  its  successor— the  Calumet  Iron  &  Steel  Company — he 
remained  for  twelve  years,  starting  in  as  errand  boy  and  advanc- 
ing through  various  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility  until  in 
1890  he  became  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  company.  The  late 
General  Joseph  T.  Torrence  was  at  the  time  vice  president  and 
general  manager  of  the  Joseph  II.  Brown  Iron  &  Steel  Company, 
and  while  he  occupied  that  position  Mr.  Sullivan  was  his  confi- 
dential man.  Afterwards,  during  the  administrations  of  Jacob  J. 
Kern  and  Charles  S.  Deneen,  he  was  Assistant  State's  Attorney, 
and  his  active  mind  and  considerable  legal  abilities  proved  of  the 
greatest  service  to  the  public. 

Mr.  Sullivan  was  prominently  associated  with  the  formation 
of  several  important  organizations,  among  which  may  be  men- 
tioned the  South  Chicago  &  Western  Indiana  Railroad  Company, 
the  Calumet  Terminal  Railroad  Company,  the  Elevated  Terminal 
Railroad  Company,  the  Belt  Limestone  Company  and  the  Metro- 
politan Gas  Company. 

In  his  religious  affiliations  Mr.  Sullivan  is  a  Roman  Catholic, 
and  in  his  politics  is  a  democrat.  He  was  married  June  30th, 
1891,  to  Mary  E.  Mason,  daughter  of  the  late  John  Mason,  during 
the  70's  and  80's  one  of  Chicago's  most  prominent  practicing  at- 
torneys. Two  children  are  the  result  of  this  union,  a  boy  of  now 
three  years  old  and  a  girl  of  one  year. 

As  may  be  gathered  from  this  brief  sketch  and  the  important 
positions  he  has  been  selected  to  fill,  Mr.  Sullivan  is  a  man  not  only 
of  a  high  order  of  talent,  but  also  of  great  energy  and  persever- 
ance, while  in  his  disposition  he  is  warm  and  kindly  and  his  man- 
ner never  wanting  in  courtesy,  characteristics  which  make  easily 
understood  the  estimation  in  which  he  is  held  not  only  by  his  pro- 
fessional associates,  but  also  by  his  host  of  personal  friends. 


494  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 


JAMES  REILLY  WARD. 


The  career  of  James  Ueilly  Ward  well  illustrates  what  may  be 
accomplished  by  the  following  out  of  an  honorable  purpose  with 
firm  determination  and  manly  self-reliance.  His  only  resource 
when  he  began  active  life  was  natural  ability,  but  he  possessed 
immense  will  power,  and  was  enabled  to  make  the  most  of  every  op- 
portunity tli at  arose.  His  home  training  had  been  an  admirable 
one,  and  very  early  in  life,  he  learned  the  value  of  self-help,  and  the 
virtues  of  industry,  frugality,  and  fidelity.  He  set  himself  a  high 
ideal,  and  in  a  practical,  common-sense  way,  has  directed  his  every 
effort  towards  its  attainment,  with  the  result  that  now  in  the 
strength  and  vigor  of  manhood  he  has  achieved  a  most  gratifying 
success  in  his  profession  and  is  universally  honored  and  respected. 

James  Keilly  Ward  was  born  on  his  father's  farm,  northwest  of 
Alton,  111.,  011  May  7th,  1851.  His  father  was  McKinley  Ward,  a 
Virginian,  born  in  1818,  while  his  grandfather  was  William  Mc- 
Ward,  well  known  and  prominent  in  the  community.  He  had  mar- 
ried a  lady  named  McNamara,  who  was  born  in  the  same  county 
as  himself,  near  Cashel,  Tipperary,  Ireland.  When  they  came  to 
this  country,  about  1812,  they  left  two  sons,  John  and  William, 
in  the  old  land,  and  there  they  lived,  married,  and  reared  families. 
The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Eliza  Ann  Jones,  was 
born  in  1823,  in  Kentucky,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Edward  Jones, 
who  was  from  Thurles,  County  Tipperary.  Edward  Jones  is 
thought  to  have  come  to  this  country  and  located  in  Kentucky  in 
1819,  where  both  his  parents  died  when  he  was  still  very  young. 

James  Keilly  Ward,  after  attending  for  a  time  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  town,  entered  the  college  at  Jacksonville,  111.,  where, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  495 

having  completed  the  classical  course  of  studies  prescribed  by  that 
institution,  he  graduated  in  1873.  Deciding  to  take  up  the  legal 
profession,  he  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  by  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Missouri,  at  St,  Louis,  on  May  21st,  1874;  by  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Illinois,  at  Mount  Vemon,  June  23d,  1874,  and 
by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  at  the  October  term, 
1890.  He  began  to  practice  his  profession  at  Carrolton,  Greene 
County,  111.,  September  23d,  1874,  and  hist  abilities  and  industry 
from  the  very  beginning  brought  him  success,  so  much  so,  that  no 
lawyer  who  ever  practiced  in  that  section  of  the  country  was  able 
in  so  short  a  time  to  command  so  lucrative  a  practice.  In  1876, 
he  was  elected  state's  attorney  for  Greene  County,  111.,  and  served 
to  the  end  of  the  term,  and  was  also  for  a  period  of  seven  or  eight 
years  city  attorney  for  the  City  of  Carrolton. 

Mr.  Ward  removed  to  Chicago,  July  14th,  1893,  and  quickly  made 
himself  known  as  a  thoroughly  conscientious  lawyer,  who  would 
not  advise  a  client  to  commence  proceedings  merely  for  the  pur- 
pose of  promoting  litigation  and  securing  a  fee,  but  would  tell  him 
it  was  useless  to  expect  a  victory  and  therefore  wisdom  not  to  court 
defeat.  Ever  studious,  industrious,  conscientious,  and  alive  to  the 
interests  of  all  his  clients,  thorough  in  the  preparation,  and  com- 
plete in  the  presentation  of  all  his  cases,  fair  minded  and  hon- 
orable in  his  methods  of  trial,  he  early  became  recognized  in  his 
professional  life  in  this  city,  as  a  most  capable  and  successful  prac- 
titioner, a  safe  counselor,  and  a  lawyer  thoroughly  equipped  in 
every  department  of  his  profession. 

Mr.  Ward  has  a  very  large  and  valuable  law  library,  but  the 
book  he  most  highly  prizes  is  the  dictionary  he  purchased  years 
ago  obtained  by  hard  working  in  very  hot  weather  in  a  harvest 
field  binding  wheat  for  $2.50  per  day. 

In  politics  he  i's  and  always  has  been  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
party,  while  in  religious  views  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  having 


196  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

been  brought  up  in  the  Alton  parish,  to  which  congregation  his 
mother  was  a  member  up  to  the  time  of  her  death  in  1869. 

Mr.  Ward  was  married  in  1880  to  Miss  Laura  B.Cornett  and  they 
have  had  two  children,  Nellie  Simms,  fifteen  years,  and  Ina  Bea, 
thirteen  years  of  age. 

In  personal  appearance  Mr.  Ward  is  a  man  of  fine  proportions, 
with  a  fine  head,  clear  cut  features,  broad  chest,  and  evidently 
robust  constitution,  all  plainly  evincing  a  large  reserve  fund  both  of 
physical  and  mental  power. 

He  resides  on  Diversey  Boulevard  in  a  splendid  home,  where, 
surrounded  by  every  luxury  a  good  income  can  command  and  a 
refined  nature  can  seek,  with  a  host  of  admiring  friends,  to  whom 
it  is  his  delight  to  show  hospitality,  Mr.  Ward  spends  his  well- 
earned  leisure. 


ANDREW   ROHAN. 


Andrew  Rohan,  the  popular  detective  sergeant  of  the  Chicago 
police  force,  or  as  he  is  known  to  everybody  in  Chicago  "Andy 
Rohan,"  was  born  in  Galway,  Ireland,  July  4th,  1847,  his  parents 
being  Patrick  and  Elizabeth  (Joyce)  Rohan.  The  former  was  a 
farmer,  who  coming  to  America  in  1848,  settled  in  the  State  of 
Illinois,  moved  later  to  Cincinnati,  and  died  there  in  1850.  The 
mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  daughter  of  Timothy 
Joyce,  of  donnish  parish,  on  the  banks  of  the  Shannon  River, 
County  Galway,  and  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  that  section  of 
the  country.  She  died  in  1892. 

The  only  education  received  by  Andrew  Rohan  was  in  the  na- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  497 

tional  schools  iii  Ireland,  which  he  attended  until  he  was  ten  years 
of  age,  when  he  was  obliged  to  go  to  work  on  the  farm.  When 
fourteen  he  came  to  America  with  his  mother,  and  joined  his  uncle, 
William,  who  had  left  Ireland  some  three  years  previously  with 
his  brother,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  settled  on 
a  section  of  land  in  La  Salle  County,  111.  The  latter  is  still  living 
on  this  land,  and  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years,  is  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  an  industrious  and  well  spent  life  in  a  hale  and  hearty 
old  age.  On  this  farm  Andrew  Rohan  worked  until  1866,  when, 
having  great  faith  in  the  possibilities  of  a  large  city  for  men  of 
energy  and  character,  he  came  to  Chicago.  Employment  was 
quickly  secured  in  the  grain  elevator  of  J.  and  E.  Buckingham,  and 
with  this  firm  he  remained  until  1873.  On  March  27th,  of  the  year 
following,  he  received  an  appointment  on  the  Chicago  police  force, 
being  detailed  to  the  Deering  Street  Station,  known  at  that  time 
as  Bridgeport,  and  one  of  the  worst  sections  of  the  city,  as  there 
was  neither  gas  nor  other  illumination  west  of  Halsted  Street. 
Here  he  remained  until  November  8th,  1874,  when  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  East  Chicago  Avenue  Station,  and  did  duty  as  a  patrol- 
man until  November  18th,  1882,  when  his  ability  as  a  police  officer 
obtained  notice  from  his  superior  officers  and  he  was  made  a  de- 
tective sergeant  and  sent  to  police  headquarters,  where  he  has  since 
that  time  continuously  served  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the 
police  department  as  well  as  the  great  good  of  the  public. 

Among  the  many  important  arrests  Sergeant  Rohan  has  made 
since  his  connection  with  the  detective  detail,  some  few  may  be 
recalled.  In  1883,  with  the  assistance  of  Detective  Meyer,  he  ar- 
rested Luke  Phipps,  who  had  while  under  sentence  of  death  escaped 
from  the  Windsor  (Canada)  jail.  The  man  was  sent  back  to 
Canada  and  hanged  inside  of  four  weeks.  The  noted  burglar, 
James  Tracey,  for  the  murder  of  Policeman  John  Heibner,  whom  he 
shot  when  the  officer  sought  to  arrest  him  on  a  charge  of  burglary, 


498  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

and  who  was  tried  and  afterwards  hanged  on  September  15th,  1881. 
Another  of  his  arrests  was  Charles  Mitchell,  colored,  wanted  in 
Indianapolis  on  a  charge  of  murder,  and  who  was  taken  back  and 
siiffered  the  full  penalty  of  his  crime.  Two  of  the  three  Italians 
who  murdered  a  man  and  shipped  the  body  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  in 
1886,  also  came  under  his  care;  and  Detective  Mike  Whealen  and 
himself  having  made  aoi  arrest  of  a  gang  of  seven  on  the  corner  of 
La  Salle  and  Ohio  when  in  the  act  of  robbing  the  cashier  of  a  broom 
factory,  those  composing  it  were  identified  later  as  the  men  who  a 
short  time  before  at  Niles  Center,  111.,  had  taken  an  Englishman 
from  bed  and  after  beating  him  nearly  to  death  had  robbed  him  of 
four  thousand  dollars  in  gold.  They  all  received  their  deserts  in 
long  terms  of  imprisonment. 

Sergeant  Rohan  was  also  prominent  in  bringing  the  leaders  of  the 
Haymarket  riots  to  justice,  assisting  on  the  morning  following  that 
event  in  arresting  Fisher  and  Spies  at  107  Fifth  Avenue.  For  a 
long  time  since  he  has  been  considered  one  of  the  star  detectives  of 
the  force,  and  when  an  important  case  conies  up,  requiring  a  cool 
head  and  ready  judgment,  he  is  always  among  the  first  to  be  sent 
for,  and  nearly  all  of  the  leading  cities  of  the  United  States  have 
been  visited  by  him  on  business  connected  with  his  work. 

For  faces,  his  memory  is  a  really  wonderful  one,  as  is  also  his 
general  knowledge  of  criminals,  which  has  been  acquired  in  twenty- 
three  years'  service  on  the  police  force,  and  has  caused  him  to  be  de- 
tailed to  represent  the  Bureau  of  Identification  for  the  last  seven 
years  at  the  Criminal  Court  building.  His  knowledge  is  there  at 
the  disposal  of  the  grand  jury,  and  he  carefully  watches  all  men 
on  trial  and  details  their  records.  As  a  result,  during  the  past  six 
years,  he  has,  by  watching  the  trials,  been  the  means  of  sending 
four  men  to  the  penitentiary  for  life,  twelve  for  twenty  years,  nine 
for  fifteen,  four  for  fourteen,  fourteen  for  ten,  and  ten  for  five  years, 
all  under  the  habitual  criminal  act. 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  499 

Mr.  Rohan  was  married  to  Lizzie  Dowling  of  County  Carlow, 
Ireland,  October  4th,  1871,  and  they  have  had  and  carefully  brought 
up  with  every  'educational  advantage,  three  boys,  of  whom  the 
eldest,  Andrew  John,  has  lately  been  appointed  on  the  police  force, 
and  one  daughter. 

In  his  religious  views  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a  member  of  the  con- 
gregation of  St.  Vincent's  Church,  this  good-natured  and  good- 
hearted  Irish  detective  has  succeeded  in  making  a  host  of  friends, 
by  aJl  of  whom  he  is  held  in  the  highest  respect  and  esteem. 

He  was  for  seven  years  a  trustee  of  the  Policemen's  Benevolent 
Society. 

This  sketch  is  necessarily  brief,  but  will  give  some  idea  of  the 
experiences  of  his  twenty-three  years  of  service,  during  all  of 
which  time  Mr.  Rohan  has  never  received  a  reprimand,  and  also 
proudly  claims,  has  neither  sought  nor  received  a  favor  due  to  po- 
litical influence. 


MICHAEL   NOON. 

Michael  Noon,  lieutenant  in  the  Chicago  Fire  Department,  was 
born  March  2d,  1863,  in  County  Roscommon,  Ireland,  of  which  his 
parents,  Luke  and  Kate  (Kenny)  Noon,  were  old  time  residents  and 
where  they  both  died. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  town,  and  Ms  studies  completed,  went  to  work  at  farming. 
He  came  to  the  United  States  when  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age, 
settling  first  at  Philadelphia.  Later  he  moved  to  Cincinnati,  where 
he  remained  two  years  and  has  two  sisters  married  and  still  resid- 
ing there,  and  then  on  to  Chicago  in  1879.  Seven  years  later  he 


500  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OP    THE 

was  appointed  a  member  of  tlie  Chicago  Fire  Department,  and  was 
promoted  to  lieutenant  in  1890. 

Mr.  Noon  was  married  in  Chicago,  1892,  to  Mary  Emily  O'Toole,  a 
young  lady  of  Irish  descent.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows 
and  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen;  a  Roman  Catholic  by 
religion,  and  a  Democrat  in  his  politics.  He  is  a  young  man  of 
energy  and  ambition,  and  having  already  made  many  friends  for 
himself  in  the  department,  should  be  able  to  look  forward  to  a 
good  career  in  the  fire  department. 


BENJAMIN   F.  O'CONNOR. 

This  well-known  member  of  the  Chicago  Fire  Department  was 
born  in  this  city  on  New  Year's  Day,  1859.  He  is  the  son  of  James 
and  Mary  (Kelley)  O'Connor,  both  of  whom  came  from  their  native 
land — Ireland — about  1838.  James  O'Connor,  who  was  a  shoe- 
maker by  trade,  found  employment  on  the  city  police  force,  of 
which  he  is  now  one  of  the  oldest  surviving  members,  and  after- 
wards went  into  business  for  himself. 

Benjamin  F.  O'Connor  found  his  education  in  the  Kinzie  public- 
school,  supplementing  later  by  private  studies.  Among  his  youth- 
ful acquaintances  he  numbered  the  notorious  Guiteau,  the  mur- 
derer of  President  Garfield. 

Having  run  away  from  home,  he  found  work  selling  papers  and 
doing  odd  jobs  until  1873,  when  he  was  given  work  by  State's  At- 
torney Charles  H.  Reed,  and  remained  with  him  in  the  position  of 
office  boy  and  doing  clerical  work  for  over  eight  years.  He  then 
went  into  the  teaming  business,  in  which  he  remained  until  1883, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  501 

when  he  received  an  appointment  on  the  fire  department  In  1887 
he  was  promoted  to  lieutenant,  and  in  1891  became  captain  of  the 
Second  Battalion,  where  he  still  remains. 

Mr.  O'Connor  was  married  in  Chicago,  September  26th,  1882,  to 
.Mary  Brady.  Four  children — James  F.,  Benjamin,  Martha,  and 
Mary  E. — are  the  result  of  the  union. 

In  religion  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  in  his  political  views  an 
independent  Democrat,  strongly  favoring  the  doctrine  of  free  silver. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Independent  Order  of  Foresters, 
and  was  formerly  connected  with  the  Second  Regiment,  and  during 
the  first  Chicago  strike,  took  an  active  part  in  the  defense  of  law 
and  order. 

His  attention  to  duty  and  his  always  courteous  manner  have 
made  for  Benjamin  F.  O'Connor  a  host  of  friends,  who  esteem  him 
as  an  American  and  honor  him  as  a  representative  of  the  Irish  race 
in  the  West. 


JOHN   J.  COOGAN. 


John  J.  Coogan,  who  was  born  in  Chicago,  June  8th,  18G8,  is  an- 
other of  the  young  brigade  of  American  Irish.  His  parents,  John 
and  Theresa  Coogan,  were  both  natives  of  County  Sligo,  Ireland, 
where  his  father  was  by  occupation  a  general  mason  and  con- 
tractor. He  died  September  12th,  1882,  but  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject is  still  living  with  her  son  in  this  city. 

Having  received  an  ordinary  education  in  St.  James  School,  Mr. 
Coogan  took  a  commercial  course  for  two  years  in  the  Athenaeum 
Business  College.  He  then  engaged  in  the  butcher  trade  for  seven 

26 


502  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

years,  giving  this  up  in  1889  on  receiving  Ms  appointment  to  the 
Chicago  Fire  Department,  where  he  still  remains  as  a  valued  and 
respected  member. 

Mr.  Coogan,  who  is  a  Roman  Catholic  by  religion  and  an  un- 
flinching Democrat  in  his  politics,  is  a  member  of  several  societies, 
among  which  may  be  mentioned  the  Order  of  Foresters,  the  Macca- 
bees and  the  Firemen's  Benevolent  Association. 


JOHN  JOSEPH  MAHONEY. 


Lieutenant  John  Joseph  Mahoney,  of  the  Chicago  police  force, 
was  born  October  16th,  1859,  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  His  parents,  Tim- 
othy and  Annie  (Shannon)  Mahoney,  were  both  natives  of  County 
Clare,  Ireland.  Timothy  Mahoney  was  a  sailor,  who,  after  follow- 
ing a  seafaring  life  for  many  years,  came  to  America  in  1835  and 
sailed  on  the  lakes,  maMng  Buffalo  his  home,  but  later  locating  at 
Chicago,  lie  is  living,  but  his  wife,  the  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  died  in  1891. 

John  Joseph  Malioney  was  but  a  year  old  when  his  parents 
moved  to  Chicago,  and  he  grew  up  near  to  the  place  to  which  he  is 
now  attached  and  which  is  such  a  terror  to  evil  doers,  the  Maxwell 
Street  Police  Station.  Having  attended  the  parochial  schools,  he 
was  later  at  the  Chicago  public  schools,  which  he  left  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  a,nd  started  to  make  his  way  in  the  world. 

His  first  employment  was  as  an  errand  boy  in  a  printing  office, 
going  from  there  to  the  Chicago  &  Fort  Wayne  Railroad  freight 
office  as  clerk.  Afterwards,  under  Sheriff  Hanchett,  he  held  the 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  503 

position  of  watchman  at  the  County  Jail  for  three  years,  and  on 
June  4th,  1887,  was  appointed  on  the  Chicago  police  force  with 
orders  to  report  the  following  day  to  Battery  D.  Here  he  was  re- 
ceived by  Inspector  Bonfield,  who,  after  a  short  questioning,  or- 
dered him  to  do  duty  at  the  City  Hall  as  a  Central  Station  detec- 
tive. This  was  a  mark  of  high  honor,  for  in  the  force  to  be  a  central 
detective  is  considered  promotion,  and  to  be  secured  after  years  of 
service. 

Twelve  months  later  he  was  sent  to  the  West  Twelfth  Street 
Station  as  Desk  Sergeant  under  Captain  Simon  O'Donnell,  and 
remained  there  two  years,  being  then  transferred  as  Desk  Sergeant 
to  the  Canalport  Avenue  Station,  a  position  he  held  until  January 
3d,  1891,  when  Mayor  Washburne  appointed  him  a  Lieutenant  and 
transferred  him  to  the  Maxwell  Street  Station. 

As  the  district  over  which  the  latter  has  control  is  one  of  the 
worst  portions  in  the  City  of  Chicago,  the  fact  that  Lieutenant  Ma- 
honey  has  remained  there  for  over  five  years,  speaks  well,  both  for 
his  efficiency  as  an  officer  and  for  his  record  in  the  service.  Several 
times  he  has  distinguished  himself — as  the  Police  Department  rec- 
ords show — in  the  line  of  duty,  and  an  instance  in  the  summer  of 
1896  will  bear  recording,  for  there  Lieutenant  Mahoney  had  a  very 
narrow  escape  for  his  life. 

He  and  two  officers  in  his  command  set  out  in  pursuit  of  a  negro 
who  had  murdered  an  Italian.  The  officers  forced  another  colored 
man  to  accompany  them  and  point  out  the  murderer.  The  crim- 
inal at  last  discovered,  close  to  his  usual  haunts,  at  once  opened 
fire  at  close  range  on  the  Lieutenant  and  one  of  the  officers,  who 
returned  the  tire.  Under  cover  of  the  smoke  which  resulted  he 
escaped  into  a  house  hard  by,  where  he  was  finally  captured  and  is 
now  expiating  his  offense  in  State  prison. 

Lieutenant  Mahoney  was  married,  January  9th,  1892,  to  Miss 
Susie  Wilier,  a  native  of  Calhoun  County,  111.  In  religion  he  is  a 


504  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

Roman  Catholic  and  a  regular  attendant  of  the  Twelfth  Street 
Jesuit  Church. 

A  gentleman  of  fine  appearance  and  most  pleasant  manner  and 
always  the  utmost  courtesy,  he  is  a  credit  to  the  police  force,  which 
contains  no  more  valued  or  trusted  officer,  and  in  the  career  he  has 
chosen  he  is  well  justified  in  aspiring  to  any  position. 


JOHN   KENNEDY  SULLIVAN. 


John  Kennedy  Sullivan  is  a  Chicagoan,  for  he  was  born  Janu- 
ary 22nd,  1856,  on  the  west  side,  on  the  spot  where  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Depot  now  stands.  His  father  was  Timothy 
Sullivan,  a  native  of  County  Cork,  Ireland,  and  his  mother,  Ann 
(Kennedy)  Sullivan,  from  Tipperary.  Timothy  Sullivan  left  Ireland 
in  1838,  and  after  working  on  the  Wellington  Canal,  in  Canada, 
twelve  months,  came  to  Chicago,  where  he  located  permanently 
until  his  death  in  1893,  while  Mrs.  Sullivan  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1848,  and  is  still  living. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  what  little  education  he  was 
privileged  to  obtain  at  the  Jesuits'  School,  and  at  the  public  schools 
of  the  city,  but  was  compelled,  at  the  early  age  of  twelve,  to  find 
employment  in  order  to  help  his  parents  in  the  support  of  the  fam- 
ily. He  was  fortunate  in  securing  work  in  a  box  factory,  where 
he  remained  eight  years. 

In  1873  he  took  a  position  with  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St. 
Paul  I{.  R.  Co.  as  brakeman,  and  kept  that  employ  until  1876,  when 
he  went  to  work  in  the  same  capacity  for  the  Pittsburg,  Fort  Wayne 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  505 

&  Chicago  K.  B.  Co.  until  1882,  wheii  he  returned  to  his  old  occu- 
pation in  the  box  factory. 

Having  secured  a  position  with  the  Chicago  Fire  Department  as 
substitute,  he  was  assigned  to  Hook  and  Ladder  Co.  No.  5,  and  in 
February,  1882,  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  Lieutenant,  and 
sent  to  Hook  and  Ladder  No.  12,  December,  1887,  remaining  there 
until  December,  1892,  when  he  was  transferred  to  Engine  No.  5, 
as  Captain.  At  the  latter  he  remained  for  two  years,  when,  his 
health  failing,  as  a  mark  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by 
Chief  Swenie,  he  was  transferred  to  Engine  No.  77,  located  at 
Fortieth  Court,  on  the  extreme  west  side. 

On  May  Gth,  1880,  he  was  married  to  Mary  L.  Corbet,  a  native 
of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  they  ha.ve  had  seven  children,  of  whom  five  are 
living. 

Captain  Sullivan  is  a  Roman  Catholic.  He  is  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Society  of  Maccabees,  and  also  of  the  Firemen's  Benevo- 
lent Association.  His  kindly  manner  and  genial  courtesy,  as  well 
a.s  esteem  for  his  earnest  performance  of  every  duty,  have  brought 
him  hosts  of  friends. 


JOHN    HANNAN. 


John  Haniiau,  Chief  of  the  Sixteenth  Battalion  of  the  Chicago 
Fire  Department,  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Minister,  Ireland, 
April  8th,  1846.  His  father,  Michael  Hanuan,  who  by  profession 
was  a  civil  engineer,  stood  very  high  in  the  community  in  which 
he  lived,  not  only  for  the  professional  ]>osition  he  had  attained,  but 
for  many  sterling  personal  qualities.  He  was  a  man  of  splendid 
education  and  his  reputation  secured  him  several  offers  of  good 


506  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

positions  abroad,  but  feeling  unable  to  separate  himself  for  any  ex- 
tended period  from  the  family  growing  up  around  him,  he  never 
left  Ireland.  There  he  died,  in  1855,  his  wife,  formerly  Bridget 
Maloue,  following  him  in  February,  1880. 

John  Hannan  received  his  education  in  the  parochial  schools 
of  his  native  town,  going  later  for  a  short  time  to  a  boarding  school 
in  Dublin.  On  being  visited  by  an  uncle  he  became  homesick 
and  took  an  early  opportunity  to  run  away  from  school  and 
return  to  his  father's  home.  He  was  fifteen  years  old  when,  in 
1861,  his  father  having  died,  the  widow  concluded  to  move  to  Amer- 
ica with  the  family.  A  location  was  found  in  Quebec,  but  there 
they  only  remained  for  a  short  time,  and  then  with  the  family  a 
move  was  made  to  Chicago. 

For  some  time  John  Hannan  worked  at  whatever  he  could  find 
until,  in  1865,  he  saw  an  opportunity  and  went  into  the  grain  and 
coal  business,  and  in  this  continued  Tintil  in  1872,  when  it  was 
given  up,  owing  to  a  disagreement  Avith  his  partner.  On  October 
2nd,  1873,  he  secured  an  appointment  on  the  Chicago  Fire  Depart- 
ment with  an  assignment  as  pipeman  to  Engine  No.  13.  Having 
served  for  six  years  he  resigned  and  went  to  Denver,  Colorado, 
where  he  found  employment  for  about  a  year  as  foreman  for  the 
Denver  Gas  Co.  He  gave  up  this  position  and  returned  to  Chicago, 
engaging  for  six  months  as  a  burner  for  Cribbeu,  Sexton  &  Co. 

In  1881  he  was  reappointed  on  the  Chicago  Fire  Department 
and  was  sent  to  Engine  No.  32  as  pipeman,  twelve  months  later 
being  promoted  to  the  position  of  Lieutenant  of  the  same  company, 
and  at  the  end  of  two  years  became  its  Captain.  During  the  next 
twelve  years  he  served  as  Captain  of  Engines  Nos.  13,  9,  and  11,  and 
on  July  1st,  1896,  he  was  given  his  present  position  as  Chief  of  the 
Sixteenth  Battalion  with  headquarters  at  4600  Cottage  Grove  Ave- 
nue, a  district  comprising  the  territory  from  Thirty-fifth  Street 
south  to  Fifty-ninth  Street,  and  from  State  Street  to  the  lake. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  507 

Chief  Hannaii  is  in  religion  a  Itoiuan  Catholic  and  a  regular  at- 
tendant of  St.  Thomas'  Church.    On  August  8th,  1879,  he  was  inar-- 
ried  to  Sarah  Frances  Mclntyre,  of  Kenosha,  Wis.,  and  they  have 
had  seven  children,  of  whom  four  are  living. 

A  man  of  sterling  character,  a  strict  disciplinarian,  but  never 
wanting  in  kindliness,  Chief  John  Hannan  is  one  who  does  honor 
to  the  land  of  his  birth  as  well  as  the  country  in  which  he  has  made 
his  permanent  home. 


MICHAEL   SULLIVAN. 


Fire  Captain  Michael  Sullivan  was  born  in  Castle  Mahan,  New 
Castle  West,  Limerick,  Ireland,  December  20th,  1858.  He  is  the  son 
of  Patrick,  a  farmer,  and  Elizabeth  (Herold)  Sullivan.  His  educa- 
tion Avas  received  in  the  national  schools  of  his  native  town,  which 
he  left  at  the  age  of  fifteen  to  help  his  father  on  the  farm.  In  1878, 
hoping  to  better  his  condition,  he  came  to  America,  where  he  set- 
tled first  at  Pine  Brook,  N.  J.,  remaining  there  two  years  and  a 
half.  In  1881  he  moved  to  Chicago,  securing  employment  as  a  street 
car  driver,  and  in  this  he  continued  for  five  years. 

In  June,  1886,  he  obtained  an  appointment  on  the  Fire  Depart- 
ment as  truckman,  and  was  sent  to  Truck  No.  1,  located  at  Pacific 
Avenue  and  Harrison  Street.  He  was  there  two  years  and  nine 
months,  then  being  transferred  to  Truck  No.  5,  on  West  Twelfth 
Street,  where  he  remained  until  1889,  when  he  was  promoted  to  a 
lieutenancy  and  sent  to  Engine  No.  25,  located  at  Canalport  Avenue 
and  Union.  At  the  latter  he  remained  fourteen  months,  and  was 
transferred  to  No.  7,  on  Blue  Island  Avenue.  In  January,  1893, 


508  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

lie  was  made  a  captain  with  assignment  to  Engine  No.  17,  at  80 
West  Lake  Street.  Here  he  remained  two  years,  then  being  sent 
to  Engine  No.  34,  at  Curtis  and  Randolph  Streets,  for  thirteen 
months,  and  afterwards  transferred  to  No.  44,  where  he  still  re- 
mains. 

Captain  Sullivan  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Royal  League  and  the  Firemen's  Benevolent  Association.  He  was 
married,  September  3d,  1890,  to  Margaret  Morrisy,  and  they  have 
had  five  children,  of  whom  three  are  living. 

His  quick  promotion  in  the  fire  service  and  the  high  character 
he  bears  among  his  superior  officers  for  strict  and  ready  perform- 
ance of  all  duties,  speak  in  no  uncertain  terms  as  to  Capt.  Sullivan's 
special  capabilities.  By  his  courteous  treatment  of  everyone  he 
has  made  for  himself  a  host  of  friends  who  know  no  words  of  praise 
too  high  for  generous  Michael  Sullivan. 


SIMON   O'DONNELL 


Simon  O'Donnell,  the  well-known  live  stock  commission  mer- 
chant and  representative  of  that  prominent  and  highly-esteemed 
citizen  of  Chicago,  Samuel  W.  Allerton,  is  a  native  of  Ireland  and 
was  born  in  County  Waterford  November  14,  1847.  His  father, 
John  O'Donnell,  by  occupation  a  farmer,  was  born  .in  the  same 
county,'  as  was  also  his  mother,  Katharine  (Mansfield)  O'Donnell. 
They  came  to  this  country  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  only 
two  years  old,  and  the  boy  received  his  primary  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  New  York.  In  1860  he  came  to  Illinois  with  B.  F. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  611 

Harris,  of  Champaign,  banker  and  cattle  dealer,  a  ml  finished  his 
education  in  the  district  schools  at  Fannington,  Illinois. 

At  the  early  age  of  fifteen  he  came  to  Chicago  and  started  work 
in  the  cattle  business  at  the  old  Fort  Wayne  yards,  Chicago,  when 
oiily  seventeen  having  full  charge  of  shipping  the  government  cat- 
tle for  Fawcett  &  Bankard,  a  position  of  responsibility,  requiring 
not  alone  energy,  but  also  good  executive  ability.  He  went  to  the 
Union  Stock  Yards,  Chicago,  in  1865  and  in  18(56  to  Commuuipaw, 
New  Jersey,  to  take  charge  of  yards  that  were  built  there  by  a  num- 
ber of  Chicago  capitalists,  among  whom  was  Samuel  W.  Allertou. 
Mr.  O'Doimell  worked  more  especially  for  Mr.  Allertou  selling  cat- 
tle in  the  New  York  market  and  generally  assisting  in  his  export 
business  until  1880.  During  this  time,  on  March  4,  in  the  year 
1870,  the  young  man  went  to  Europe  with  the  first  beef  shipped 
from  this  country  by  Samuel  W.  Allerton  and  D.  H.  Sherman,  of 
New  York.  In  1881  he  came  back  to  Chicago  Stock  Yards,  and 
since  that  time  has  had  entire  charge  of  Mr.  Allerton's  live  stock 
business,  amounting  to  over  a  million  dollars  a  year.  In  the  buy- 
ing of  cattle,  the  shipping  to  Europe,  in  fact  everything  relating  to 
live  stock,  Mr.  O'Douuell  has  acquired  such  a  thorough  proficiency 
that  he  is  considered  an  expert,  and  his  opinion  eagerly  sought  and 
correspondingly  valued. 

Apart  from  his  amazing  activity  and  the  responsibility  of  his 
duties  in  the  special  line  we  have  mentioned,  he  is  at  the  same  time 
general  agent  for  the  Keystone  Live  Stock  Car  Company,  which  is 
unrated  over  the  Pennsylvania  lines,  and  his  work  is  as  greatly 
appreciated  in  that  connection  as  in  any  other  in  which  he  has 
engaged. 

In  his  religious  views  Mr.  O'Doimell  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  and 
in  his  political  opinion  a  warm  Republican  and  protectionist,  lie 
is  a  member  of  the  Sheridan  (Tub  and  also  of  the  Royal  Arcanum. 

lie  was  married  in  1867  to  Margaret  Pearson,  of  New  Jersey, 


512  BIOGRAPHICAL,    HISTORY    OF    THE 

and  they  have  had  three  children,  two  girls  and  a  boy.  One  of  his 
daughters  is  married  to  Mr.  W.  E.  Dee,  of  Chicago,  a  contractor, 
and  his  son  assists  his  father  at  the  stock  yards,  and,  whether  in- 
herited or  acquired,  has  already  evinced  considerable  aptitude  and 
ability  in  the  business. 

Mr.  O'Donnell  is  a  man  of  fine  constitution  and  physique,  in- 
deed had  he  not  been  the  possessor  of  a  sound  body  as  well  as 
sound  mind,  it  would  unquestionably  have  been  impossible  for  him 
to  accomplish  all  that  he  has  succeeded  in  doing.  Thoroughly  do- 
mestic in  his  habits,  he  is  at  the  same  time  of  a  most  social  and 
genial  disposition,  and  nothing  affords  him  greater  pleasure  than 
to  gather  around  him  his  numerous  and  sincere  friends. 


JAMES  J.  RYAN. 


James  J.  Ryan,  another  of  Chicago's  bright  and  promising  young 
lawyers,  was  born  in  this  city,  July  17th,  1873.  His  father,  Michael 
Ryan,  is  a  native  of  Tipperary,  Ireland,  and  came  to  this  country 
about  18(50,  when  only  fourteen  years  of  age,  his  first  settlement 
being  in  Cincinnati,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  plumber.  Six 
years  later  the  young  man  came  to  Chicago  and  worked  success- 
fully at  the  business  he  had  chosen  for  his  life  work.  He  is  now 
the  head  of  the  well-known  firm  of  M.  Ryan  &  Sous  on  Milwaukee 
Avenue.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  City  Council  some  six  or 
seven  times.  His  wife,  mother  of  James  J.,  is  also  a  native  of  Tip- 
l)erary,  and  came  to  Cincinnati  when  quite  a  girl,  where  she  met 
and  was  eventually  married  to  Mr.  Ryan. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  513 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a  four  years'  classical  course 
at  the  Jesuit  School  of  St  Mary's,  Kansas,  and  afterwards  a  more 
strictly  legal  course  at  Notre  Dame,  Indiana,  where  he  graduated. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  immediately  after  leaving  college  and 
commenced  active  practice  in  connection  with  the  well-known  law 
firm  of  Goodrich,  Vincent  &  Bradley,  and  is  now  with  the  firm  of 
Enuis  &  Coburn. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  and  of  St. 
Ignatius  College  Alumni. 

Mr.  Kyan  has  traveled  extensively  through  the  West  and  South, 
visiting  every  town  and  point  of  interest.  He  is  a  Democrat  in 
politics  and  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  political  affairs. 

Mr.  Kyan  has  always  shown  an  ardent  taste  for  literature  of  all 
kinds,  especially,  however,  for  subjects  of  a  poetical  and  philo- 
sophical character,  and  even  when  at  school  was  a  contributor  to 
some  of  the  magazines;  an  essay  on  the  subject  of  poetry  attracted 
special  interest  and  commendation.  With  these  more  esthetic 
tastes  and  inclinations,  however,  is  united  an  energetic,  industrious 
and  persevering  disposition,  aoid  so  he  is  bound  to  succeed  in  the 
high  profession  he  has  chosen  for  his  life  work. 


WILLIAM    HENRY   MUSHAM. 


William  Henry  Musham,  the  First  Assistant  Marshal  and  In- 
spector of  the  Chicago  Fire  Department,  was  born  February  9th, 
1839,  on  State  Street,  near  Kinzie  Street,  in  the  City  of  Chicago. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  born  there  in  1800,  and  had, 


514  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

in  following  his  occupation  of  sailor,  met  the  mother  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  at  Queenstown,  Ireland.  They  were  married  and 
very  soon  afterwards  left  Ireland  and  moved  to  New  York  City, 
in  1829,  thence  to  Buffalo,  and  afterwards,  in  1836,  settled  in  Chi- 
cago. The  vessel  on  which  they  came  to  Chicago,  the  Charlotte, 
was  one  of  the  first  to  enter  this  port,  and  had,  in  the  War  of  1812, 
been  one  of  Commodore  Perry's  fleet.  For  a  while  after  his  arrival 
here  Mr.  Musham,  Sr.,  sailed  the  lakes,  afterwards  going  into  the 
ship  rigging  business,  and  later  engaged  in  the  teaming  .business. 
He  died  in  1844,  and  being  a  man  of  kindly  disposition  and  most 
excellent  parts  was  universally  regretted.  His  wife  followed  him 
in  1873,  having  received  very  severe  injuries  during  the  great  Chi- 
cago fire  in  the  preceding  year. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  what  education  was  then 
possible  at  the  Chicago  public  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen 
became  an  apprentice  to  William  H.  Adam,  a,  carpenter,  and  at 
nineteen  years  of  age  took  up  the  business  of  journeyman  car- 
penter. He  joined  the  Volunteer  Fire  Department  in  1855  as  a 
member  of  Phoenix  No.  8,  being  soon  afterwards  promoted  to  the 
position  of  pipeman,  and  later  steward,  at  this  time  the  most  sought 
after  position.  With  this  company  he  remained  until  its  disband- 
ment,  October  23d,  1858,  when  he  left  the  department  and  returned 
to  his  trade,  but  soon  after  the  organization  of  the  Little  Giant 
Engiue  Company  No.  8,  February  13th,  1860,  he  once  again  entered 
the  department  as  pipeman,  remaining  with  it  until  1865.  While 
serving  with  this  company  he  had  a  narrow  escape  for  his  life — a 
brick  wall  falling  upon  him,  killing  a  companion,  and  he  only  es- 
caping by  providential  good  fortune.  Concluding  finally  that  he 
ought  to  see  a  little  of  the  country,  he  moved  to  Philadelphia,  but 
Chicago  associations  proved  too  strong  and  to  make  his  permanent 
home  he  returned  in  1866  to  this  city,  and  was  appointed  first  pipe- 
man in  the  paid  Fire  Department  and  assigned  to  T.  B.  Brown 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  516 

Engine  Company  No.  12.  In  18G8  the  position  of  foreman  of  Little 
Giant  Engine  Company  No.  6  was  offered  and  accepted  by  him,  and 
this  he  held  until  March  1st,  1872.  When  the  great  fire  occurred 
his  command  and  himself  did  noble  service,  they  being  the  first 
to  arrive  at  the  fire  at  9:30  o'clock  on  the  night  of  October  7th,  and 
\vorking  continuously  until  3  o'clock  the  next  afternoon,  when,  the 
fire  being  subdued,  he  was  ordered  home  for  a  few  hours'  rest. 
Six  and  a  half  hours  later,  at  9:30  Sunday  night,  October  8th,  his 
company  was  again  summoned  to  fight  the  flames,  and  continued 
to  work  as  long  as  it  was  able  to  do  any  service. 

The  Board  of  Fire  Commissioners  on  March  1st,  1872,  recognized 
his  ability  by  promoting  him  to  be  Third  Assistant  Fire  Marshal, 
in  charge  of  the  entire  west  division  of  the  city,  and  he  continued 
in  charge  of  the  Fourth  Battalion  until  the  spring  of  1877,  when 
he  was  transferred  to  the  Second.  Before  leading  his  old  com- 
mand, the  Fourth,  the  members  showed  their  appreciation  of  him- 
self by  presenting  him  with  a  silver  tea  set  and  a  thirty -two  cone  fire 
hat  Mr.  Musham  was  relieved  of  the  command  of  the  Second  Bat- 
talion on  May  1st,  1880,  and  appointed  First  Assistant  Fire  Mar- 
shal and  Inspector  of  the  department,  which  position  he  still  most 
worthily  fills.  Chicago  owes  many  of  the  valuable  improvements 
which  have  taken  place  in  her  engine  houses  to  his  eminently  prac- 
tical mind,  and  to  his  having  taken  entire  superintendence  of  the 
building  and  repairing  since  his  appointment  as  foreman  of  Little 
Giant  Engine  Co.  No.  6  in  1868.  Not  merely  is  he  the  chief  car- 
penter of  this  department,  but  everything  therein  passes  under  his 
immediate  inspection,  once  every  three  months  all  the  apparatus 
being  inspected  according  to  number,  commencing  with  Engine 
Co.  No.  1,  the  first  day,  and  so  on  until  the  whole  list  is  gone  through. 

First  Assistant  Marshal  W.  H.  Musham  is  a  man  of  medium 
height,  and  in  build  is  slight  and  muscular,  being  eminently  adapt- 
ed to  the  duties  he  has  undertaken  and  in  which  he  has  attained 


516  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

so  high  a  position.  His  personality  is  a  most  interesting  one,  cour- 
teous in  his  manner,  always  free,  open  and  good  natured,  he  pos- 
sesses a  host  of  friends,  not  merely  among  his  companions  in  the 
fire  service,  but  throughout  all  sections  of  the  great  City  of  Chicago. 


MAJOR  LAWRENCE  M.  ENNIS. 

Lawrence  M.  Ennis  was  born  in  Chicago,  November  3d,  1859, 
his  father,  James  Ennis,  being  a  native  of  Enniscorthy,  County 
Wexford,  Ireland,  being  born  near  the  famed  Vinegar  Hill,  March 
27th,  1837.  His  ancestors  were  Spaniards,  who,  under  Ferdinand 
De  Ganzaga,  came  to  Ireland  in  the  fifteenth  century  and  settled  in 
County  Wexford,  the  name  for  years  being  written  De  Ganzaga- 
Ennis.  Of  his  immediate  forefathers,  several  were  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Vinegar  Hill,  in  1798.  A  grand-uncle,  Murtaugh  Ennis, 
enlisted  in  the  English  army  and  was  the  first  Roman  Catholic  since 
the  Reformation  to  obtain  a  commission  in  the  English  army  for 
bravery  on  the  field  of  battle.  James  Ennis  married  Mary  A.  Sex- 
ton, daughter  of  Stephen  Sexton,  of  County  Clare,  a  lady  who  was 
born  in  Chicago,  September  14th,  1842. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  obtained  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  at  St.  Patrick's  Academy,  of  Chicago,  under  the  Chris- 
tian Brothers.  He  was  graduated  from  the  North  Division  High 
School,  June  27th,  1877,  and  was  the  class  orator  of  his  year.  After 
the  death  of  his  father,  which  occurred  November  9th,  1880,  and 
his  mother  having  preceded,  Lawrence  was  left  the  guardian  of 
the  family,  being  the  eldest  of  ten  orphan  children.  Undaunted 
by  such  misfortunes,  and  having  previously  read  law  in  his  father's 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  617 

office,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  old  friend,  Francis  W. 
Walker,  under  the  firm  name  of  Ennis  &  Walker,  and  continued 
the  business  of  his  father.  This  firm  existed  four  years,  until,  in 
1884,  Mr.  Walker  went  into  the  State's  Attorney's  office.  In  March, 
two  years  later,  Mr.  Ennis  formed  a  partnership  with  William  E. 
Mason,  the  popular  member  of  Congress,  and  now  the  United 
States  Senator  from  Illinois,  under  the  firm  name  of  Mason  & 
Ennis,  and  the  business  of  the  new  firm  proved  both  pleasant  and 
profitable,  so  continuing  until  1895,  when  the  partnership  was  dis- 
solved and  Mr.  Ennis  formed  a  new  firm  with  John  J.  Coburn, 
under  the  name  of  Ennis  &  Coburn. 

After  five  years  of  service  Mr.  Ennis  was  mustered  out  of  Com- 
pany "F,"  First  liegiment  Infantry,  Illinois  National  Guard,  De- 
cember, 1884.  In  1887  he  was  elected  to  the  Veteran  Corps  in  said 
regiment,  serving  first  in  the  capacity  of  secretary  and  for  several 
years  afterwards  and  still  being  the  historian  of  the  corps.  In 
November,  1895,  he  carried  the  "Flag  of  Friendship"  on  the  South- 
ern tour  of  his  regiment  to  Nashville,  Atlanta,  Savannah,  A  ugusta, 
Lookout  Mountain,  and  many  other  prominent  cities  and  places  of 
interest.  December  5th,  189f>,  he  was  elected  and  commissioned 
Major  of  the  First  Battalion,  Seventh  Kegiment  Infantry,  Illinois 
National  Guard. 

In  the  way  of  political  favor,  Major  Ennis  has  never  sought  pub- 
lic office.  In  1880  he  acted  as  United  States  Census  Enumerator  for 
this  district. 

The  interest  he  has  always  manifested  in  educational  matters 
is  evinced  by  the  presentation  each  year  of  a  gold  medal  for  the 
best  English  essay  to  the  graduating  class  of  the  North  Division 
High  School.  It  is  known  as  the  Ennis  "Essay  Medal,"  and  for  the 
past  sixteen  years  these  tokens  of  friendship  to  the  fortunate  com- 
petitors have  been  awarded  by  him. 

On  October  2nd,  1884,  Mr.  Ennis  was  united  in  marriage,  at 


518  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

Woodstock,  111.,  to  Elizabeth  Gertrude,  youngest  daughter  of  Cor- 
nelius and  Mary  (Murphy)  Quinlan.  Their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  four  children — Mary,  Gertrude  M.,  Lawrence  M.,  and  James. 

Thoroughly  domesticated  in  his  tastes,  he  infinitely  prefers  the 
surroundings  of  his  comfortable  home  and  the  society  of  his  esti- 
mable wife  and  four  children  to  any  delights  to  be  obtained  from 
club  life.  He  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  a  Democrat  of  free  silver  tenden- 
cies, and  in  1896  was  a  candidate  for  Presidential  Elector  on  the 
Democratic  ticket  for  Bryan  and  Sewall,  from  the  Second  Congres- 
sional District  of  Illinois. 

In  personal  appearance  Major  Ennis  is  an  excellent  type  of  his 
nationality.  He  is  of  military  appearance,  very  erect,  and  six  feet 
one  and  three-fourths  inches  in  height.  Unassuming  and  easily 
approached,  kindly  in  his  disposition,  and  ever  generous  natured, 
Mr.  Ennis  has  made  for  himself  a  host  of  friends  both  in  business 
and  social  circles,  who  respect  him  for  his  high  professional  gifts 
and  esteem  him  for  his  personal  qualities. 


MICHAEL  SARSFIELD  MADDEN. 


The  firm  of  Madden  Brothers  is  perhaps  the  most  favorably 
and  widely  known  of  the  many  real  estate  brokerage  houses  in  Chi- 
cago, although  its  existence  only  dates  back  to  1887.  Its  life  is 
typical  of  that  of  the  city  itself,  for  its  foundation  and  resources 
were  nothing  other  than  the  sound  judgment  and  accurate  fore- 
sight of  its  founders,  and  as  the  city  stands  pre-eminent  in  history 
for  its  remarkable  development,  so  of  the  firm  of  which  we  write, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  519 

for  its  founders  builded  better  than  they  knew,  juid  from  a  small 
beginning  the  amount  of  business  transacted  in  real  estate  broker- 
age is  equal  to  any  in  the  city. 

In  connection  with  his  brother,  Mark  F.  (whose  biography  ap- 
pears elsewhere  in  this  work),  Michael  S.  Madden  has,  by  those 
characteristics  which  are  the  requisites  of  the  successful  Chicago 
business  man,  accomplished  this  result.  His  parents,  natives  of 
the  Emerald  Isle,  located  in  Whitby,  Pickering  County,  Ontario,  in 
1849,  and  here,  on  June  21st,  1864,  our  subject  was  born.  After  a 
course  of  study  in  the  public  schools  he  completed  his  education  at 
St.  Michael's  College,  Toronto.  At  this  time  (1883)  the  "Dakota 
Fever"  was  at  its  height,  and  Mr.  Madden  was  one  of  those  imbued 
with  the  prospect  of  wealth  and  prosperity  offered  by  the  newly 
opened  territory.  He  accordingly  located  on  a  claim  at  Bartlett, 
near  Devil's  Lake,  North  Dakota,  built  himself  a  cabin,  and  for  six 
long  mouths  lived  almost  the  life  of  a  recluse,  having  no  companion- 
ship other  than  his  horse  and  dogs,  his  nearest  neighbor  being  sev- 
eral miles  distant.  Later,  as  the  St.  Paul,  Minnesota  &  Manitoba 
Railroad  (now  the  Great  Northern)  was  built,  it  passed  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  his  cabin,  and  his  lonely  farm  became  the  center  of  a  thriving 
village.  With  the  extension  of  the  road,  however,  the  population 
migrated  and  shortly  afterwards  Mr.  Madden  abandoned  his  claim 
and  coming  to  Chicago  organized,  in  conjunction  with  his  elder 
brother,  Mark  F.,  the  firm  of  Madden  Bros.,  more  fully  referred  to 
in  the  sketch  of  M.  F.  Madden. 

Our  subject  is  an  active  member  of  the  Sheridan  and  the  Co- 
lumbus Clubs,  and  from  the  fact  that  he  is  still  a  bachelor,  much 
of  his  leisure  is  passed  in  the  commodious  quarters  of  these  institu- 
tions. He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Catholic  Church  and  unosten- 
tatiously contributes  his  full  share  towards  all  charitable  and 
worthy  works  whose  objects  are  the  advancement  of  humanity 
and  the  broadening  of  our  civilization. 

27 


520  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

In  politics  a  Democrat,  his  work  for  the  party  interests  is  as  a 
citizen  and  a  voter  rather  than  in  active  participation  in  political 
affairs;  in  his  life  is  found  all  the  elements  of  those  qualifications, 
habits,  and  methods  which  are  so  rapidly  bringing  the  present 
younger  American  generation  to  the  front  ranks,  as  compared  with 
their  compeers  in  the  older  countries,  in  all  that  pertains  to  the 
growth,  development  and  prosperity  of  the  national  spirit  and  life. 


JOHN   S.   COOKE. 


There  is  no  more  thoroughly  representative  American  Irish  citi- 
zen in  this  great  Chicago  of  ours  than  the  subjed;  of  the  present 
short  sketch,  large-hearted,  broad-minded  John  S.  Cooke.  Fearless 
and  energetic,  gifted  with  a  most  wonderful  power  of  perseverance, 
entirely  unrecognisive  of  defeat,  he  has  surmounted  innumerable 
difficulties,  until  from  a  poor  lad,  whose  only  capital  was  his  rich 
business  endowments  and  unimpeachable  integrity,  he  is  to-day  the 
head  of  one  of  the  largest  brewing  enterprises  in  the  west. 

He  was  born  January  10th,  1837,  in  Mitchelstown,  County  Cork, 
Ireland,  where  his  father,  John  Cooke,  was  a  shoemaker  in  very 
comfortable  circumstances,  being  owner  of  quite  one-third  of  the 
town  of  Glenwood.  His  wife,  formerly  Mary  Clancy,  belonged  to  a 
family  as  old  as  any  in  Ireland,  and  which  in  song  and  story  has 
frequently  been  referred  to. 

John  S.  Cooke  received  but  an  imperfect  education  in  the  na- 
tional schools  of  Fermoy,  for  he  had  already  served  a  considerable 
apprenticeship  to  a  baker  and  confectioner,  when  barely  sixteen 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  521 

years  of  age,  he  decided  to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  United  States. 
Landing  in  New  York,  he  found  similar  employment,  but  his  wages 
were  only  sufficient  to  afford  him  a  bare  livelihood,  nothing  being 
left  over  to  help  to  his  future.  In  1857,  when  eighteen  years  of  age, 
he  determined,  like  thousands  of  others  at  that  time,  to  go  west, 
and  set  out  for  Chicago.  Always  of  a  willing  disposition,  he  found 
employment  at  his  trade,  later  sailing  the  lakes  as  a  seaman  and  also 
working  in  the  capacity  of  a  laborer.  Strong  and  hardy,  he  abso- 
lutely cared  nothing  as  to  the  character  of  the  work  so  long  as  his 
labor  was  well  paid.  He  tells  himself,  how  on  one  occasion  he  gave 
up  $75  a  month  as  a  baker  to  work  as  a  roustabout,  since  at  the 
latter  $200  a  month  could  be  earned. 

When  the  Civil  War  broke  out  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  Kent 
Packing  House,  the  same  year  he  went  to  work  for  Michael  Keely, 
1863  he  became  a  citizen  and  then  only  because  soldiers  were  being 
drafted  in  the  army,  and  he  wished  not  to  neglect  any  duty  of  citi- 
zenship. He  had  claimed  that  it  was  time  to  become  an  American 
citizen  when  one  was  in  a  settled  position  and  knew  how  the  future 
stood. 

In  1866  he  entered  the  employ  of  Messrs.  Schwab,  McQuaid  & 
Monheimer,  the  wholesale  wine  and  liquor  dealers,  with  whom  he 
remained  as  traveler  for  fourteen  years,  then  buying  an  interest 
and  the  firm  becoming  Monheimer  &  Cooke.  Mr.  Cooke  bought  out 
the  Union  Brewing  Company  in  1886  and  organized  the  Cooke 
Brewing  Company,  one  of  the  largest  in  the  West,  a  position  which 
has  been  well  sustained  despite  the  severe  business  conditions  of  re- 
cent years.  His  sturdy  character  was  evinced  in  his  hard  struggle 
against  the  beer  trust,  and  in  which  he  at  last  has  come  off  prac- 
tically the  victor. 

Mr.  Cooke  was  married  in  1863  to  Miss  Charlotte  Rowland  of 
Rochester,  N.  Y.  They  have  four  children,  Charles,  George  J.,  John 
R.,  and  Irene. 


522  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

A  Roman  Catholic  in  religion,  his  purse  is  ever  open  at  the  call 
of  charitable  purpose.  In  his  political  views,  he  is  a  staunch  Demo- 
crat, and  a  highly  valued  adherent  of  the  party,  but  he  is  never  in 
any  way  a  partisan,  but  irrespective  of  politics,  will  support  who- 
ever in  his  opinion  he  considers  to  be  the  better  candidate.  In  1895 
he  was  put  forward  by  his  friends,  and  entirely  unknown  to  him- 
self, for  the  position  of  city  treasurer.  He  received  the  nomination 
at  the  Democratic  Convention,  but  though  he  ran  far  in  front  of  his 
ticket,  he  fell  in  the  popular  landslide.  In  Irish  affairs  of  recent 
years  he  has  been  among  the  foremost  advocates  for  the  freedom  of 
the  land  of  his  birth,  and  the  amelioration  of  the  social  conditions  of 
his  country  at  home  or  abroad. 

Mr.  Cooke  has  been  a  resident  of  this  city  for  nearly  forty  years. 
With  him,  work  has  been  ha,ppiness,  and  plodding  along  steadily 
and  perseveringly,  he  stands  to-day  one  of  the  leading  and  richest 
citizens  of  Chicago.  His  advancement  from  a  humble  beginning 
to  his  present  prominent  position  has  been  the  natural  result  of  his 
own  untiring  efforts,  and  the  success  achieved  no  one  can  possibly 
begrudge. 


SENATOR  EDWARD  J.  DWYER 


Among  the  many  bright  young  Irish-Americans  who  are  push- 
ing their  way  to  the  front  and  making  a  name  for  themselves  in 
the  business  world  and  in  politics,  Senator  Edward  J.  Dwyer 
stands  in  the  front  rank. 

He  was  born  in  Chicago,  November  21st,  1861.  His  parents, 
Michael  and  Mary  R.  (Guinan)  Dwyer,  coming  to  Chicago  from  Ros- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  523 

crea,  County  of  Tipperary,  Ireland,  in  1851.  Upon  arrival  here, 
Mr.  Dwyer,  Senior,  was  connected  with  the  Chicago  &  Northwest- 
ern Railroad  for  thirteen  years,  and  was  afterwards  in  the  grocery 
business  until  he  died,  in  1872. 

Senator  Dwyer  can  consistently  be  called  a  self-made  man,  as 
what  little  education  he  received  was  picked  up  by  him  after  leav- 
ing school,  which,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was  compelled  by  cir- 
cumstances to  do,  in  order  to  make  a  living  for  himself  and  mother. 

His  first  employment  was  with  the  printing  house  of  Burgess: 
from  this  place  he  went  to  the  Althrop  Publishing  Co.,  where  he 
was  the  superintendent  of  their  mailing  department  for  several 
years.  He  soon  began  to  take  an  interest  in  political  matters  and 
was  appointed  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  City  Clerk  in  1888,  remain- 
ing in  this  office  a  year  he  went  into  the  Coroner's  office,  and  then 
into  the  Recorder's  office. 

While  in  the  recorder's  office  in  1890  he  was  nominated  for  West 
Town  clerk  and  was  elected,  being  the  only  Republican  that  was 
elected  in  either  town  in  the  landslide  which  at  that  time  occurred. 
The  following  year  the  nomination  was  tendered  him  but  was  re- 
fused. In  1891  Mayor  Washburne  appointed  him  assistant  superin- 
tendent of  water;  while  holding  this  office  he  was  nominated  for 
West  Town  assessor,  and  was  one  of  two  Republicans  elected. 

In  1892,  after  his  work  as  assessor  was  finished,  he  was  appointed 
superintendent  of  water  by  Mayor  Washbume,  to  succeed  William 
Lorimer,  who  had  resigned. 

In  1894  Mr.  Dwyer  was  elected  to  go  to  the  State  Senate  from  the 
Seventeenth  District;  he  now  holds  that  position  and  is  also  deputy 
city  clerk. 

The  Senator  has  made  a  brilliant  record  in  the  Senate,  and  is  al- 
ways on  the  alert  to  see  that  the  interests  of  his  constituents  are 
taken  care  of  and  are  given  proper  consideration.  To  him  much 
credit  is  due  for  the  passage  of  the  drainage  canal  bill.  The  opposi- 


524  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

tion  to  it  was  very  strong,  but  the  Senator  organized  and  led  the 
friends  of  Chicago  and  the  canal  to  victory.  The  Senator  belongs 
to  and  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Order  of  Foresters,  Royal 
Arcanum,  and  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Mr.  E.  J.  Dwyer  was  secretary  of  the  Republican  County  Central 
Committee  for  two  years,  and  has  long  represented  his  ward  in  the 
councils  of  his  party. 

His  wife  was  formerly  Miss  Mollie  V.  Lawler,  niece  of  the  late 
lamented  Hon.  Frank  Lawler.  He  married  her  in  1894 


COLONEL  WILLIAM   P.   REND. 


Cosmopolitan  in  character,  and  possessing  much  that  is  metro- 
politan in  appearance,  Chicago  numbers  amongst  her  most  honored 
and  eminent  citizens  many  of  those  who  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in, 
and  whose  early  associations  are  closely  linked  with,  the  land  of  the 
shamrock,  and  that  fair  isle  beyond  the  sea — Ireland.  Of  all  the 
citizens  of  Chicago,  however,  who  lay  claim  to  the  honor  of  having 
been  born  in  the  Etnerald  Isle,  there  is  pi'obably  no  one  better 
known,  more  highly  respected,  or  whose  career  has  been  more  suc- 
cessful, not  only  in  a  commercial  and  social  sense,  but  in  a  military 
and  political  sense  also,  than  has  that  of  Colonel  Wm.  P.  Rend. 

A  native  of  County  Leitrim,  Ireland,  he  was  born  February  10th. 
1840.  His  father,  Ambrose  Rend,  was  a  substantial  farmer,  while 
his  mother,  Elizabeth  (Cline)  Rend,  was  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Hugh 
Cline,  who  for  years  held  the  responsible  and  important  position  of 
steward  of  one  of  the  largest  and  oldest  estates  in  Ireland.  Remov- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  525 

ing  to  tliis  country  in  1847,  our  subject  being  at  this  time  but  seven 
years  of  age,  his  parents  settled  at  Lowell,  Mass.,  where  he  spent  his 
early  years,  and  where  he  received  his  education,  graduating  from 
the  high  school  of  that  city  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  Leaving  school, 
shortly  afterwards  he  decided  to  try  his  fortune  in  New  York  City, 
having  gained  considerable  business  experience,  especially  in  the 
dry  goods  line,  during  the  evenings  and  holidays  while  resident  at 
home.  Arriving  at  New  York,  with  but  scanty  means,  he  found  it 
necessary  to  procure  a  position  as  early  as  possible.  Commencing 
with  the  stores  on  Broadway,  he  endeavored  for  some  time  to  find 
an  opening,  but  without  success,  and  seeing  his  small  means  fast 
dwindling  away,  he  made  for  New  Jersey,  determined  to  accept 
whatever  employment  chanced  to  offer  itself;  and  this  time,  pluck 
and  determination  won,  for  on  the  day  after  his  arrival  there  he 
secured  the  position  of  school-teacher  in  the  city  of  New  Brooklyn, 
which  position  he  occupied  for  twelve  months.  Resigning  his  posi- 
tion as  school-teacher,  his  intention  was  to  locate  in  South  Carolina. 
Desiring,  however,  to  visit  an  old  friend  of  his,  and  one  with  whom 
he  had  been  intimately  acquainted,  when  resident  in  Lowell,  Mass., 
he  visited,  en  route,  Baltimore,  and  here  his  attention  was  drawn 
to  an  advertisement  for  a  teacher,  inserted  in  one  of  the  local  papers 
by  the  trustees  of  the  school  district  near  West  River,  Anne  Arundel 
County,  Maryland.  Applying  for  the  position — his  application,  by 
the  way,  being  one  of  seventy — he  was  selected  to  fill  the  vacancy, 
remaining  here  over  three  years,  his  scholars  being  principally  the 
children  of  prominent  and  wealthy  slave-holders  and  proprietors 
of  large  plantations.  At  the  house  of  one  of  the  latter  he  boarded 
and  made  his  home,  spending  his  evenings  and  other  spare  time  in 
classical  studies,  with  a  view  of  entering  an  advanced  class  in  a 
neighboring  college,  and  from  the  president  of  St.  John's  College 
he  received  much  assistance,  valuable  advice,  and  much  practical 
aid  and  sympathy — it  being  Mr.  Rend's  custom  at  this  time  to  ride 


526  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

to  and  fro  (a  distance  of  over  ten  miles),  on  Saturday  afternoon,  for 
this  purpose,  intending  to  complete  his  studies,  and  to  eventually 
occupy  a  superior  position.  Just  about  this  period,  however,  the 
war  broke  out.  At  the  time  his  most  intimate  friends  and  asso- 
ciates were  slaveholders.  He  liked  the  South  and  the  southern  peo- 
ple, but  abhorred  secession.  He  believed  that  he  owed  it  as  a  high 
and  sacred  duty  to  volunteer  his  services  in  the  cause  of  the  Union, 
and  for  the  protection  of  the  American  flag. 

Upon  the  firing  of  Fort  Sumter,  he  decided  to  relinquish  his 
position  as  school-teacher,  and  shortly  afterwards  joined  the  army, 
receiving  from  the  governor  of  Maryland  permission  to  organize  a 
company  at  Annapolis.  But  as  was  to  be  expected,  at  the  first  com- 
mencement of  the  war,  the  cause  of  the  Union  and  Union  sentiment 
generally  was  but  very  weak  in  this  locality,  and  his  efforts  not 
meeting  with  that  immediate  success  which  his  ardent  nature  de- 
sired, he  abandoned  this  undertaking.  Still,  however,  determined 
to  do  what  he  could,  and  to  aid  the  Union  cause,  whose  side  he  had 
espoused,  and  whose  principles  he  believed  in,  and  for  whose  su- 
premacy he  was  willing  to  risk  even  life  itself,  if  need  be,  he  went 
to  Washington,  and  here  joined  the  Fourteenth  New  York  Volun- 
teers (one  of  the  infantry  regiments  organized  about  this  time), 
previous  to  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Bun,  and  remained  with  his  com- 
pany until  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment,  serving  most 
of  his  time  as  a  non-commissioned  officer.  He  was  in  a  number 
of  the  most  prominent  battles  in  which  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
was  at  this  time  engaged,  including  Hanover  Court  House,  Second 
Bull  Kun,  Mechanicsville,  Gaines  Mills,  Malvern  Hill,  the  battles 
of  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  etc.,  and  the  battles 
before  Yorktown,  etc.  He  was  the  first  man  in  his  regiment  who 
was  struck  by  a  bullet  during  the  siege  of  Yorktowu,  though  not 
seriously  wounded.  During  the  battle  of  Malvern  Hill,  a  portion 
of  his  pants  was  shot  away,  while,  as  is  well  known,  the  "Four- 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  627 

teenth"  suffered  heavily  in  killed  and  wounded,  and  in  that  battle 
alone  lost  one-third  of  the  entire  number  engaged.  His  many  hair- 
breadth escapes,  the  many  narrow  and  close  calls  he  received,  and 
the  incidents  and  dangers  through  which  Colonel  Rend  at  this  time 
passed,  would  fill  a  much  larger  space  than  we  now  have  at  our 
disposal.  His  time  of  enlistment  having  expired,  he  was  finally 
mustered  out  of  service,  afterwards  paying  a  brief  visit  to  his 
friends  in  Massachusetts.  Here  at  a  social  gathering  he  became  ac- 
quainted with  a  lady  for  whom  he  formed  a  strong  attachment,  the 
result  of  which  was  a  speedy  engagement.  With  the  promptitude 
of  action  and  sincerity  of  mind  so  characteristic  of  him,  then  as  now, 
he  proposed  marriage  and  was  accepted,  agreeing  to  defer  the  cere- 
mony for  twelve  months  or  so,  and  believing  the  West  to  offer  good 
opportunities  for  a  young  man  to  engage  in  the  struggles  of  life,  and 
as  affording  good  and  rapid  chances  of  advancement,  he  immedi- 
ately made  for  Chicago,  arriving  here  during  the  latter  part  of  the 
war,  and  the  day  following  secured  a  position  in  the  surveyor's  de- 
partment of  a  railroad  company  locating  a  line  from  Madison  to 
Winona.  Mr.  Rend,  having  a  fair  theoretical  knowledge  of  survey- 
ing, and  a  natural  fondness  and  aptitude  for  mathematics,  he  deter- 
mined to  take  this  up  as  a  profession,  and  to  turn  his  knowledge 
in  this  direction  to  a  good  and  practical  account,  continuing  in  this 
occupation  until  winter  set  in  and  necessitated  the  abandonment 
of  the  survey  until  the  following  spring.  Returning  to  Chicago, 
he  soon  secured  a  position,  this  time  in  the  freight  depot  of  the 
Northwestern  Railway  Company,  being  appointed  foreman  of  this 
department.  And  it  was  while  here  that  Mr.  Rend  formed,  per- 
haps, the  basis  of  his  fortune,  for  in  conjunction  with  the  cashier 
of  this  depot  he  started  a  line  of  teams,  and  thus  inaugurated  a  busi- 
ness, which  in  course  of  time,  owing  to  its  rapid  developments, 
and  increase,  necessitated  his  close  and  individual  attention,  for  his 
position  with  the  railway  company  had  insured  him  plenty  of  work 


528  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

iu  this  direction,  and  enabled  him  to  build  up  a  remunerative  and 
successful  business.  Finding  his  capital  increasing,  and  the  oppor- 
tunities good,  while  his  capacity  for  work  seemed  even  then,  as 
now,  almost  uulimitable,  he  decided  to  embark  in  the  coal  trade, 
taking  as  partner  Mr.  Edwin  Walker,  who  has  now  been  for  over 
twenty  years  intimately  connected  with  him,  not  only  in  financial 
matters,  but  in  the  closer  friendship  of  private  life.  It  was  not 
long  ere  the  firm  of  W.  P.  Rend  &  Co.  became  the  largest  merchants 
engaged  in  the  eastern  soft  coal  trade  in  the  whole  West,  intro- 
ducing also  not  only  the  far-famed  "Hocking  Valley"  coal  in  this 
city  and  in  the  markets  having  their  headquarters  in  Chicago,  but 
were  the  first  who  recognized  its  various  qualities,  and  through 
whose  instrumentality  the  first  train  load  was  brought  from  that 
locality.  And  thus  their  business  grew  and  developed,  until  at 
last  they  found  it  necessary  to  open  up  and  operate  mines  in  Ohio 
and  Pennsylvania  in  order  to  keep  pace  with  the  extensive  demand 
which  their  business  had  established.  At  present  Mr.  Rend  is  per- 
sonally the  proprietor  of  three  of  the  largest  mines  in  western  Penn- 
sylvania, owns  a  half  interest  in  three  mines  in  Ohio,  the  owner  of 
two  mines  in  Ohio,  and  a  half  owner  of  two  others  in  Pennsylvania, 
whose  combined  output  give  employment  to  over  two  thousand 
men.  He,  individually,  and  his  firm  own  seventeen  hundred  and 
fifty  freight  cars,  employed  in  the  transportation  of  their  product. 
Having  headquarters  at  Chicago,  their  main  operations  are  in  the 
markets  of  the  various  northwestern  states.  The  total  output  of 
their  mines  exceed  one  million  tons  per  annum,  their  shipments  ex- 
tending to  Canada,  where  they  sell  to  railroads  and  to  dealers,  while 
they  supply  with  coal  large  manufactories  of  Ohio,  Illinois,  and 
many  other  states.  They  also  supplied  for  years  several  railroad 
companies  with  the  entire  fuel  used  oil  their  lines.  From  Mr. 
Rend's  mines  in  Pennsylvania,  large  amounts  of  coal  are  sent  by 
rail  to  Cleveland  and  Erie,  and  thence  to  Duluth  and  various  ports 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  529 

on  Lakes  Michigan  and  Superior.  Besides  the  interests  already 
named,  Mr.  Rend  is  extensively  engaged  in  the  production  of  natural 
oil  from  several  wells  sunk  on  his  Laurel  Hill  mining  property  in 
western  Pennsylvania. 

His  property  is  in  the  heart  of  the  great  oil  belt,  lying  partly  in 
Washington  and  partly  in  Allegheny  County,  Pennsylvania,  and 
which  has  become  the  most  prolific  and  most  wonderful  oil-produc- 
ing territory  ever  yet  discovered  in  this  country.  In  spite,  however, 
of  the  seemingly  unlimited  demands  upon  his  time — and  being  en- 
gaged in  and  conducting  such  an  extensive  business  as  he  does — 
Colonel  Rend  still  manages  to  find  time  to  devote  to  many  matters 
of  public  importance.  His  advocacy  of  the  temperance  cause  is 
well  known,  and  though  believing  more  in  the  effects  of  moral 
suasion,  rather  than  compulsory  and  legal  means,  he  is>  however, 
now,  and  always  has  been,  an  ardent  champion  of  its  principles,  and 
it  was,  in  fact,  at  his  suggestion  that  Bishop  Ireland  of  St.  Paul  sent 
Father  Cotter  (now  bishop  of  Winona)  on  a  temperance  crusade 
throughout  Ohio  and  Indiana,  with  the  result  that  seventeen  thou- 
sand took  the  pledge,  while  upon  Father  deary's  continuance  of 
this  good  work,  over  seventy-two  thousand  names  were  added  to 
the  temperance  cause,  the  whole  expense  of  which  crusade  was — let 
it  be  said  to  his  credit — borne  by  Colonel  Rend. 

Several  years  ago  our  subject  was  elected  by  the  Second  Regi- 
ment, Illinois  State  Volunteer  Infantry,  as  lieutenant-colonel  of 
this  regiment,  and  this  position  he  retained  for  a  number  of  years. 

Of  much  literary  ability,  he  is  a  frequent  contributor  to  the  press 
on  political  and  other  subjects  of  a  public  nature,  while  he  is  ex- 
tremely fond  of  mathematical  subjects,  and  reads  the  Latin  classics 
in  the  original  with  ease  and  fluency.  Politically  he  is  independent, 
but  at  a  time  was  prominently  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 
He  is  a  believer  in  men  and  measures,  rather  than  in  party.  Fre- 
quently approached  with  a  view  to  nomination  for  the  mayoralty 


530  BIOGRAPHICAL,   HISTORY   OF    THE 

and  other  prominent  positions,  lie  has  hitherto  steadily  declined  to 
allow  his  name  to  be  used  in  this  connection.  Holding  and  exer- 
cising a  potent  influence  in  labor  matters,  he  has  always  taken  a 
deep  interest  in  all  subjects  and  problems  affecting  the  interests 
of  employer  and  employe,  while  he  has  succeeded  in  assisting  to 
establish  more  friendly  intercourse  between  the  miners  and  em- 
ployers throughout  the  coal  regions  of  many  states.  Six  years  ago, 
aided  by  a  few  friends,  he  succeeded  in  the  inauguration  of  a  move- 
ment of  industrial  conciliation  in  the  mining  regions  of  Ohio  and 
Pennsylvania.  That  it  has  been  successful  (though  previously  un- 
tried in  this  country)  is  saying  but  little,  while  its  influence  and 
result  have  been  in  every  way  satisfactory,  and  have  much  tended 
to  maintain  that  good  feeling  which  should  exist  between  miners 
and  operators.  He  is  a  strong  believer  in  arbitration  and  councils 
of  'conciliation,  as  opposed  to  lockouts  and  strikes.  He  was  the 
first  president  of  a  meeting  held  some  years  ago  for  this  purpose, 
and  sent  the  first  address  that  was  ever  issued  in  behalf  of  this 
movement,  and  by  his  speeches  and  writing  in  the  public  press  has 
helped,  to  no  small  extent,  to  mold  a  sentiment  favorable  to  this 
solution  of  what  had  hitherto  been  a  problem  of  considerable  diffi- 
culty. This  movement  has  prevented  strikes  and  labor  conflicts  in 
western  Pennsylvania  and  throughout  Ohio  in  nearly  aJl  of  the 
leading  mining  districts  for  five  years,  while  previously  one  or  more 
strikes  occurred  every  year.  The  results  being  so  beneficial  to  the 
cause  of  labor,  it  may  be  imagined  in  what  esteem,  high  respect  and 
confidence  Colonel  Rend  is  held  by  the  miners  of  this  country,  and 
by  a  body  of  men  for  whom  he  has  done  so  much.  If  evidence  were 
needed  on  this  point  we  have  but  to  mention  one  case,  and  it  is 
similar  to  numerous  others,  where  the  miners  of  northern  Illinois 
selected  Colonel  Rend  as  their  representative,  a  former  miner,  by 
name  of  Williams,  representing  the  operators,  and  Lyman  J.  Gage, 
Esq.,  forming  the  third  party,  at  an  arbitration  case  which  was  in- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  531 

tended  to  act  as  a  test  for  the  settlement  of  the  entire  mining  ques- 
tion in  northern  Illinois.  Nine  years  ago  one  of  the  most  bitter 
struggles  that  had  ever  taken  place  between  capital  and  labor 
occurred  in  the  Hocking  Valley  region  of  Ohio.  Taking  sides  with 
the  men,  believing  them  at  the  time  to  be  in  the  right,  he  had  as 
opponents  forty  coal  operators,  backed  up  by  a  number  of  railroad 
companies,  and  in  particular  the  Hocking  Valley  Railroad  Co. 
This  company  becoming  so  incensed  at  his  (Colonel  Bend's)  action 
in  the  matter,  endeavored  to  vent  their  spleen  on  him  by  refusing  to 
allow  him  cars,  and  by  advancing  the  freight  rates  and  otherwise 
restricting  his  business  operations.  They  attempted  to  make  it 
impossible  for  him  to  successfully  operate  his  mines,  but  in  this  they 
failed.  Colonel  Rend  was  not  the  man  to  bow  submissively  to  this 
or  any  other  company,  being  aware  that  he  but  exercised  the  rights 
of  any  ordinary  citizen  in  doing  what  he  did.  Entering  an  action 
in  the  federal  courts,  he  petitioned  for  and  obtained  a  mandatory 
injunction  compelling  the  railroad  company  to  furnish  him  cars 
at  the  usual  terms.  Firmly  maintaining  his  original  position,  he 
compelled  the  company  also  to  recognize  and  to  pay  that  due  re- 
spect to  his  interests  which  the  magnitude  of  his  operations  war- 
ranted. A  strong  and  firm  believer  in  legal  methods,  his  position 
once  clear,  and  his  cause  just,  he  is  aggressive  and  extremely  posi- 
tive in  character,  and  though  his  necessity  of  recourse  to  law  has 
been  but  little,  whenever  such  necessity  occurs,  he  is  seldom  to  be 
found  on  the  losing  side. 

Of  medium  height,  robust  build,  and  somewhat  fair  complexion, 
he  is  of  a  sanguine,  liighly  nervous  temperament,  possessing  much 
foresight,  keen  perception  and  administrative  ability  of  no  mean 
order;  he  is  extremely  energetic  and  a  great  worker. 

He  is  a  Catholic  in  religion.  As  is  well  known,  he  is  singularly 
free  from  all  religious  prejudices,  a  hater  of  bigotry  in  every  form, 
and  one  who  abhors  religious  controversy,  and  everything  which 


532  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

tends  to  create  animosity  and  ill-feeling  between  citizens  and  people 
of  a  common  country. 

Married  December  27th,  1864,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Barry  (born  in 
Nova  Scotia  and  of  Irish  parentage).  Their  home  at  153  Ashland 
Avenue  is  noted  for  its  elegance  and  comfortable  surroundings. 


ALEXANDER  H.   REVELL. 


Alexander  H.  Revell  was  born  in  Chicago,  January  6th,  1858,  and 
is,  therefore,  at  the  time  of  this  writing,  thirty-nine  years  of  age. 
It  is  about  this  time  in  a  man's  life,  that,  in  most  biographies,  he 
begins  to  show  promise  that  in  later  life  ripens  into  fruition.  But 
in  Mr.  Revell's  case,  although  his  battles  were  yet  before  him,  there 
is  a  long  and  honorable  list  of  struggles  to  be  recorded,  many  a  vic- 
tory to  be  marked  and  a  final  achievement  to  be  shown  such  as 
would  creditably  mark  a  life  career  of  double  the  number  of  years. 
The  story  of  Mr.  Revell's  life  is  thoroughly  American  Irish,  thor- 
oughly Chicagoan,  indeed.  It  is  a  record  of  victories  snatched  from 
apparent  defeat,  of  compelling  adverse  fate  to  be  his  slave  and  not 
his  master.  It  is  a  glowing  example  of  what  honesty  and  perse- 
verance, when  animated  by  indomitable  will,  can  do. 

His  father  was  the  late  David  James  Revell,  and  his  mother, 
Margaret  Revell,  nee  Dorgan.  At  the  time  of  his  birth  his  parents 
lived  on  Van  Buren  Street,  very  near  where  the  Board  of  Trade 
Building  now  stands.  Mr.  Revell,  ihe  elder,  was  a  grocer  and  had 
a  large  business.  He  is  remembered  by  many  old  Chicagoans  as  a 
man  of  sterling  worth  and  untiring  energy.  Believing  fully  in  the 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  633 

great  future  of  Chicago,  Mfi  Revell  invested  his  earnings  in  houses 
which  he  built  on  leased  grounds.  The  great  fire  of  1871  swept 
away  the  earnings  of  years,  and  a  few  months  after  the  conflagra- 
tion he  died.  , . 

Young  Revell  was  then  but  thirteen  years  of  age.  He  had  been 
a  steady  attendant  up  to  this  time  at  the  old  Jones  School,  on  the 
corner  of  Clark  and  Harrison  Streets.  A  new  and  greater  problem 
now  confronted  the  boy.  He  had  not  only  an  education  to  acquire 
but  a  living  to  make.  From  the  wreck  of  his  father's  fortune  there 
remained  a  horse  and  wagon.  With  these  and  his  American  "grit" 
for  capital  he  attacked  the  hard  problem  cheerfully.  Night  schools 
gave  him  an  opportunity  to  win  an  education;  the  day  was  his  fight- 
ing time  for  bread  and  butter.  For  a  while  he  earned  money  by 
delivering  trunks  from  the  Rock  Island  Depot.  This  was  not  very 
productive  work,  however,  and  the  young  lad  then  showed  that 
keen  appreciation  of  the  opportunities  at  hand  which  has  charac- 
terized his  whole  life.  The  streets  of  the  city  were  filled  with 
clouds  of  gritty,  sharp  dust  from  the  cinders  of  the  great  fire,  which 
was  extremely  annoying.  He  started  to  sell  goggles,  and  for  a  time 
did  a  thriving  business.  He  also  distributed  hand-bills  on  the 
street;  later  he  was  to  be  found  in  a  lamp  factory  polishing  lan- 
terns. He  was  saving  money  all  this  time,  and  next  started  a  little 
grocery  store,  shortly  after  a  flour  and  feed  store,  and  finally  a 
small  furniture  store. 

In  1874,  the  "hard  times"  year,  the  young  storekeeper,  still  alive 
to  the  signs  of  the  times,  sold  out  his  little  business  and  started  out 
with  his  horse  and  wagon  again.  His  work  was  chiefly  delivering 
goods  to  and  from  the  various  auction-houses.  He  took  a  deep  in- 
terest in  the  goods  he  was  hauling  for  other  people;  soon  he  be- 
came a  purchaser  on  his  own  account  and  delivered  his  own  goods. 
All  was  fish  that  came  to  his  net;  he  invested  in  coffee,  in  books,  in 
hardware,  furniture,  soap,  hats,  caps,  in  any  merchandise  that  of- 


5M  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

fered  him  a  profit.  A  story  of  these  eady  days  is  illustrative.  Not 
long  before  Christmas  he  stumbled  across  a  large  lot  of  castile  soap 
in  an  auction-house,  brought  in  from  a  bankrupt  concern.  He 
bought  six  boxes  at  three  cents  a  pound  and  started  out  to  find 
a  customer.  In  a  short  time  he  was  successful,  selling  to  a  grocery 
firm  these  six  boxes  at  six  cents  a  pound.  With  this  money  he  re- 
turned to  the  auction-house  and  got  an  option  on  the  whole  stock. 
With  a  few  samples  he  started  out  again  to  find  a  buyer.  He 
walked  into  a  big  iihoknrit  grocery  house  on  Lake  Street  and 
showed  his  samples.  The  merchant  tested  the  soap,  asked  a  few 
questions,  and,  surprised  at  the  youthfulness  of  his  customer,  re- 
quested him  to  wait  while  he  went  oat  and  looked  it  up.  Young  Be- 
Tell  waited  a  half  an  hour,  but  when  the  merchant  returned  made  hi* 
sale  at  seven  cents  a  pound,  netting  three  hundred  and  seventy-five 
dollars  by  the  transaction.  Part  of  this  money  made  what  might 
have  been  a  dull  Christmas  very  bright  and  cheerful  for  his  family, 
and  pan  went  to  join  other  savings  in  the  state  savings  institution. 
A  short  time  afterwards  this  bank  failed,  and  young  Bevell  had  but 
MB  bank  book  left,  every  cent  was  swept  away;  but  he  had  more 
years  and  Bore  experience  and  his  "grit"  was  still  with  him. 

Swallowing  down  all  useless  sighs,  he  began  to  seek  employ- 
ment in  some  business  house.  Among  others,  he  applied  to  A.  T. 
Stewart  &  Co.,  who  had  jnst  opened  a  western  branch  in  Chicago. 
He  was  offered  seven  dollars  a  week  to  work  in  the  carpet  depart- 
ment, bat  having  fixed  eight  dollars  as  his  minimum  he  refused  the 
offer.  Finally  he  secured  employment  in  a  furniture  store  on  Fifth 
A  venae.  By  hard,  steady  work  he  sared  in  two  yean  three  hun- 
dred dollars.  His  self -reliance  found  that  capital  enough,  and  with 
a  fellow-clerk,  J.  E.  Geohegan,  «nee  l  "  n  •  •  1,  he  opened,  in  1878, 
an  unpretentious  little  store  at  Xo.  77  Fifth  Avenue.  Young 
BereD  was  then  but  twenty  yean  of  age,  it  »  to  be  remembered. 
The  little  bonlncnc  was  wen  managed  and  prospered  accordingly. 


AMERICAN*    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO. 

In  one  year  the  partners  moved  into  ampler  quarters.  This  same 
rear  he  bought  oat  his  partner's  interest.  From  that  time  the 
business  has  grown  to  the  present  vast  building  with  its  forty  de- 
partments, its  army  of  clerks  and  salesmen  and  its  enormous  and 
varied  stock.  Besides  the  great  retail  establishment  that  bears  his 
name,  he  is  also  president  of  the  A.  H.  Revell  Manufacturing  Ox, 
which  occupies  a  huge  building  on  the  corner  of  Polk  Street  and 
Fifth  Avenue,  and  gives  employment  to  over  two  hundred  men. 

Parallel  with  his  financial  winnings  have  been  his  social  and 
educational  conquests.  The  race  for  money  did  not  blind  him  to 
the  necessity  for  brain  wealth.  Mr.  Revell  is  a  director  in  several 
educational,  benevolent  and  social  organizations.  The  Marquette 
dub,  of  which  he  was  president  in  1889-90,  owes  its  position  in  the 
front  rank  of  Chicago  clubs  very  largely  to  his  excellent  judgment 
and  tireless  energy.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Chicago  Board  of  Edu- 
cation, and  also,  as  one  of  the  directors  and  member  of  the  execu- 
tive committee  of  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition,  he  was  untir- 
ing in  his  efforts  for  the  success  of  that  great  enterprise. 

He  has  traveled  extensively  in  the  four  quarters  of  the  globe. 
He  is  thoroughly  alive  to  the  interests  of  his  native  city. 

In  politics  Mr.  Revell  is  a  Republican,  and  interests  himself  ac- 
tively in  all  elections,  municipal,  state  or  national. 

Such  is  his  public  history.  Personally  he  is  a  genial,  frank 
gentleman,  with  a  cordial,  cheery  voice,  a  pleasant  smile  and  a 
decided  firm  grasp  of  the  hand  for  his  friends.  All  are  indicative 
of  the  man.  He  is  anything  but  an  autocrat ;  a  curt  command  never 
leaves  his  lips,  but  in  either  of  his  great  establishments,  or  wherever 
he  makes  a  request,  he  finds  instant  and  willing  obedience.  No 
man  knows  better  than  he  the  trials  of  the  workingman's  life,  ami 
that  knowledge  stands  him  in  good  stead.  His  successes  have  not 
been  too  great  for  him.  He  set  out  to  succeed,  kept  his  aim  steadily 
in  view  and  reached  it. 


536  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

Such  is  the  history  of  his  early  manhood,  indeed  of  his  boyhood. 
Before  him  stretches  out  a  long  series  of  years.  Judging  from  the 
record  of  the  past,  from  the  knowledge  of  the  present,  it  is  safe  to 
say  that  other  and  greater  honors  and  triumphs  await  him  in  these 
coming  years.  However  that  may  be,  there  is  a  great  value  in  the 
history  of  his  life  for  young  men. 

Alexander  H.  Revell  has  to  trace  his  successes  primarily  to  the 
excellent  and  specially  American  Irish  trait  or  characteristic 
summed  up  in  the  word  "backbone."  Under  adversity,  failure,  set- 
backs, obstacles,  he  stood  upright,  and  with  honest  perseverance 
and  manhood  fought  steadily  until  he  had  conquered  every  obstacle 
to  the  success  he,  from  the  first,  determined  to  attain. 


JOHN  T.   DONAHOE. 


The  subject  of  the  present  sketch  is  another  well  known  mem- 
ber of  the  legal  profession  in  this  city.  He  was  born  April  14th, 
1853,  at  Bennington,  Vermont,  and  is  the  son  of  Patrick  and  Ellen 
(Gilnaugh)  Donahoe,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  County  Long- 
ford, Ireland.  Patrick  Douahoe  was  imbued  with  the  revolutionary 
feeling,  both  himself  and  his  brothers  being  members  of  the  society 
in  Ireland  which  instigated  the  rising  in  1849.  His  father  came  to 
the  United  States  about  1846  (being  compelled  to  leave  Ireland  on 
account  of  the  interest  he  had  taken  in  the  revolutionary  movement, 
his  brother  having  been  arrested  and  lodged  in  jail  for  the  same 
cause),  settling  first  in  New  York  City,  and'  later  in  Bennington,  Ver- 
mont, where  he  took  up  the  occupation  of  a  potter.  In  1857  Patrick 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  637 

Donahoe  moved  to  Grundy  County,  Illinois,  and  engaged  in  farming, 
dying  there  in  1869.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  re- 
mained in  Grundy  County  until  1896,  when  she  moved  to  Chicago, 
and  now,  over  seventy  years  of  age,  is  enjoying  the  evening  of  her 
days.  The  late  Archbishop  Iliggins,  who  took  such  a  prominent 
part  in  the  liepeal  Movement,  of  O'Connor's  time,  was  one  of  her 
cousins. 

John  T.  Donahoe,  who  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  place,  afterwards  began  a  course  of  self  study,  and  by 
the  time  he  waa  twenty  had  secured  a  position  as  teacher  in  the 
public  school.  Here  he  remained  twelve  years,  studying  law  dur- 
ing the  latter  portion  with  Hon.  Judge  Carter.  In  1887  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  and  deciding  to  dare  fortune's  favors  in  a  big 
city,  arrived  in  Chicago  on  St.  Patrick's  Day  of  that  year.  He  en- 
gaged oftices,  at  once  started  in  practice,  and  determined  to  win 
or  lose  on  his  own  merits,  decided  not  to  associate  himself  in  busi- 

« 

ness  with  any  partner.  His  success  was  immediate;  he  is  rapidly 
making  his  way  to  the  front,  and  in  1893  received  the  nomination 
as  Circuit  Judge  of  the  People's  party,  but  was  unsuccessful  in  se- 
curing the  office. 

Mr.  Douahoe  is  a  man  of  varied  abilities,  and  during  his  school 
days,  and  while  engaged  in  teaching,  he  aided  in  the  cultivation 
and  working  of  a  farm,  a  tract  of  four  hundred  acres,  which  he 
and  his  youngest  living  brother  had  saved  sitficient  money  to  pur- 
chase, and  which  they  now  hold  except  for  eighty  acres  which  was 
presented  by  both  brothers  to  their  mother.  He  has  always  been 
a  member  of  the  People's  party  until  the  last  election  and  is  now 
a  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  and  intends  remaining  such  as 
long  as  their  present  policy  is  continued,  and  a  Roman  Catholic  by 
religion.  Mr.  Donahoe  is  yet  a  bachelor  and  makes  his  home,  in 
which  he  delights  to  dispense  hospitality,  with  his  mother  and 
sister. 


538  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 


MICHAEL  J.   DUNNE. 


The  legal  profession  of  Chicago  possesses  no  more  respected 
representative  than  Michael  J.  Dunne,  who  is  an  honor  to  the  lajid 
of  his  birth  as  well  as  to  the  country  of  his  adoption. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at  Tully,  County  Kildare,  Ire- 
land, October  1st,  1839.  William  Dunne,  his  father,  was  a  native 
of  Queen's  County,  but  owned  considerable  property  in  Tully,  County 
Kildare,  where  his  high  character  obtained  for  him  a  number  of 
local  positions  of  honor  and  importance.  But  Ireland  was  groaning 
under  innumerable  oppressions,  and  when  in  addition,  disasters 
and  losses  in  business  supervened,  he  gave  up  the  fight  and  started 
for  the  new  world,  trusting  to  retrieve  his  fortune,  and  to  afford  his 
children  a  broader  and  freer  field  in  life.  A  brave  man,  the  diffi- 
culties and  dangers  of  an  unknown  land  held  for  him  no  terrors. 
He  came  direct  to  Chicago,  then  a  very  small  place.  In  the  summer 
of  1850,  both  he  and  his  surviving  children,  suffered  an  irreparable 
loss  in  the  death  of  Mrs.  Dunne  with  four  of  his  children.  William 
Dunne  survived  her  for  many  years,  dying  at  the  good  old  age  of 
eighty-six  years. 

Michael  J.  Dunne,  of  whom  we  are  treating,  received  his  earlier 
education  at  the  University  of  St.  Mary  of  the  Lake  in  Chicago, 
and  in  1854  removed  to  Elgin,  where  he  decided  on  the  legal  pro- 
fession, and  having  begun  his  studies,  completed  the  same  in  the 
office  of  Irvin  &  Snowhook  in  Chicago. 

Admitted  to  the  bar  in  1861,  he  first  practiced  in  Elgin,  and  a 
little  later  was  elected  city  attorney,  but  the  war  spirit  that  ani- 
mated the  heart  of  every  man  in  the  North,  led  him  to  seek  glory  at 
the  cannon's  mouth,  and  discarding  books  and  briefs,  he  enlisted  in 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  539 

the  Sixty-ninth  Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteers,  afterwards  raising  a 
company  for  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-first  Illinois  Volunteers, 
and  later  another  for  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-third  Regiment, 
serving  in  each  of  the  two  latter  as  first  lieutenant,  and  remained  in 
the  military  sendee  until  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  Rebellion. 
During  the  last  year  he  was  on  the  staff  of  Major-General  R.  W. 
Johnson,  who  commanded  the  District  of  Middle  Tennessee,  in  the 
capacity  of  assistant  Inspector-general.  When  the  war  closed  he 
came  to  Chicago,  and  once  more  took  up  his  profession,  rapidly  ac- 
quiring the  reputation  of  a  successful  lawyer,  and  which  soon 
brought  him  a  large  and  lucrative  practice. 

In  his  political  career  Mr.  Dunne  started  in  his  youth  as  a  dis- 
ciple of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  and  following  out  his  teaching  on  the 
question  of  the  supremacy  of  the  constitution,  became  a  war  Demo- 
crat. To  the  Democratic  section  he  has  since  remained  staunch, 
though  never  in  any  manner  prejudiced  in  his  partisanship,  but 
ever  ready  and  eager  to  admit  what  was  good  in  the  claim  and 
principles  of  those  politically  opposed  to  him.  In  1874  he  was 
elected  representative  of  the  Fifth  Senatorial  District  of  the  Illinois 
Legislature,  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  rivers  and  canals 
and  was  an  earnest  advocate  for  the  improvement  both  of  the  canal 
and  Illinois  River  that  the  capacity  as  a  water  way  might  be  so  en- 
larged as  to  admit  of  the  transportation  of  our  grain  products  to 
the  eastern  markets.  He  received  re-nomination  on  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket  in  1876,  and  was  re-elected,  taking  a  fore- 
most part  in  the  memorable  senatorial  contest  which  cul- 
minated in  General  J.  A.  Logan's  defeat  and  the  election  of 
Judge  David  Davis  to  the  United  States  Senate.  Nominated 
in  1878  as  state  senator,  he  fell  in  the  landslide  that  in  that 
year  overwhelmed  the  Democracy  in  his  county.  He  is  a  firm 
believer  in  a  gold  and  silver  standard,  or  as  he  expresses  it,  gold  and 
silver  used  interchangeably  at  a  proper  and  fair  ratio  (not  16  to  1), 


540  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

but  is  fully  convinced  such  is  not  to  be  attained  without  the  ac- 
quiescence of  European  nations. 

The  spring  of  1880  found  Mr.  Dunne  appointed  by  Mayor  Har- 
rison as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and  until  1883  he 
held  the  position  of  vice-president,  manifesting  during  his  member- 
ship a  warm  and  zealous  interest  in  the  progress  of  our  common 
school  system  and  in  educational  matters  generally. 

There  is  a  romance  connected  with  Mr.  Dunne's  marriage.  He 
was  an  engaged  man,  all  necessary  arrangements  had  been  made 
and  the  month  following  he  was  to  give  up  single  blessedness  for 
matrimonial  felicity,  when  the  great  Chicago  fire  destroyed  his  sav- 
ings and  temporarily  wrecked  his  hopes.  But  the  casualty  was 
soon  retrieved,  and  in  a  few  months  he  was  again  in  a  financial  con- 
dition to  justify  the  great  event.  On  June  3d,  1872,  he  married  at 
Montreal,  Canada,  Ellen,  daughter  of  James  McShane,  one  of  the  old 
and  most  respected  residents  of  that  city,  and  sister  of  the  Hon. 
James  McShane,  member  of  the  Dominion  Parliament  and  late 
mayor  of  that  town.  They  have  four  children  living. 


JAMES  W.  TUOHY. 


Though  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch  was  removed  from  a 
world  in  which  his  splendid  business  powers  had  been  productive  of 
absolutely  phenomenal  success  more  than  six  years  ago,  his  name 
is  yet  a  household  word  among  the  people  of  Chicago.  The  kindly 
natured,  cheery-hearted  Irishman  is  remembered  with  loving  affec- 
tion by  thousands  who  long  since  testified  their  appreciation  of  his 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  541 

remarkable  business  abilities  by  bestowing  upon  him  the  title  of 
"the  boy  merchant." 

James  W.  Tuohy  was  born  July  8th,  1849,  in  Carey,  Ireland,  near 
the  famed  Lakes  of  Killarney.  His  parents  were  Edward  and  Eliza- 
beth (Creiiin)  Tuohy,  the  latter  of  whom  still  resides  in  Utica, 
La  Salle  County,  111.,  where  James  Tuohy  spent  his  first  years  in 
this  country.  He  was  fifteen  when  he  left  Ireland,  whither  his 
father  had  journeyed  several  years  before.  In  Utica,  having  ob- 
tained all  the  educational  advantages  offered  by  the  district  school, 
he  found  a  position  as  a  clerk  in  the  dry  goods  store  of  Mr.  Dennis 
Lynch.  Later  he  removed  to  Streator  and  was  given  employment 
by  D.  Heeuan  &  Co.,  which  firm  he  left  to  enter  into  a  partnership 
with  Mr.  F.  Shields  at  Braidwood,  111.,  as  Shields  &  Company,  a  posi- 
tion which  afforded  him  an  opportunity  to  develop  his  great  busi- 
ness capacity.  When  twenty-four  years  of  age,  in  1873,  he  bought 
out  his  partner  and  took  sole  control  of  the  business.  Shortly 
afterwards  a  second  store  was  established  at  Wilmington,  111.,  and 
business  men  began  to  comprehend  that  in  his  particular  line  Mr. 
James  W.  Tuohy  was  a  master  mind. 

A  larger  field  became  necessary, 'and  in  1880  the  two  stores  at 
Braidwood  and  Wilmington  were  given  up  and  a  removal  made  to 
Chicago,  a  suitable  location  having  been  found  in  the  west  portion 
of  the  city,  at  the  corner  of  Madison  and  Peoria  Streets.  Three 
years  later  he  embraced  an  opportunity  to  purchase  from  Carson, 
Pirie  &  Scott  their  dry  goods  establishment  on  the  North  Side,  at 
the  corner  of  Clark  and  Erie  Streets.  Under  his  able  management 
and  thorough  supervision  the  business  was  conducted  as  a  depart- 
ment store  and  soon  took  rank  among  the  leading  retail  houses  of 
the  West.  To  a  man  of  Mr.  Tuohy's  capacities,  however,  success 
was  but  an  incentive  to  further  exertions,  and  in  1886  he  extended 
his  field  of  operations  by  opening  up  a  store  in  a  building  specially 
designed  and  erected  at  the  corner  of  Madison  and  Wood  Streets. 


542  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

Again  in  1887,  when  Messrs.  Carson,  Pirie  &  Scott  removed  from  the 
West  Side,  business  instinct  advised  him  to  secure  their  premises 
on  West  Madison  Street  and  to  open  up  as  a  department  store. 
This  also  soon  became  one  of  the  most  extensive  establishments  in 
the  city,  and  with  his  other  stores  gave  him  command  of  a  colossal 
business.  With  him,  every  enterprise  prospered  and  people  mar- 
veled at  the  extraordinary  vigor  and  faculties  of  the  man  which 
enabled  him  to  handle  and  control  a  business  of  such  magnitude. 
What  new  enterprise  would  he  undertake,  what  further  achieve- 
ment was  to  be  accomplished,  were  the  thoughts  in  the  minds  of 
business  men,  when  on  June  9th,  1890,  the  news  became  public  that 
in  the  midst  of  his  prosperity,  in  the  very  prime  of  his  manhood, 
death  had  claimed  a  victim.  The  shock  was  a  terrible  one,  not  only 
to  his  family,  to  whom  the  loss  was  an  irreparable  one,  but  also 
among  the  large  circle  of  his  business  associates,  who,  knowing 
him,  became  his  warm  friends.  Shrewd  and  careful  in  the  smallest 
details  of  his  own  affairs,  he  bore  and  had  fairly  won  the  reputation 
of  straightforward  and  honorable  dealing  with  others. 

Unquestionably  a  great  portion  of  his  business  success  was  due 
to  the  executive  abilities  and  true  womanliness  of  the  lady  he  had 
married  October  6th,  1874,  Miss  Nellie  Cavanaugh,  of  Ottawa,  111. 
She  was  the  loving  companion  of  his  labors,  the  urger  on  to  renewed 
effort,  but  at  the  same  time  possessed  of  that  wondrous  womanly 
instinct  which  detects  danger  afar  off,  and  whose  advice  enabled 
her  husband  to  escape  so  many  of  the  pitfalls  which  assail  a  business 
career.  Mr.  Tuohy  had  the  uttermost  faith  in  her  executive  abilities, 
and  Mrs.  Tuohy  in  her  management  of  her  husband's  estate  has 
well  justified  the  confidence  which  left  her  sole  executrix  and  gave 
her  the  entire  management  of  the  estate.  Bright  and  agreeable  in 
her  manner,  splendidly  educated,  a  woman  of  charming  courtesy 
and  graceful  apearance,  Mrs.  Tuohy  was  just  the  wife  for  such  a 
man  as  James  W.  Tuohy. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  643 

Of  their  family,  the  eldest,  Mary  Elizabeth,  is  a  bright  and 
beautiful  girl  with  many  rich  accomplishments  just  budding  into 
womanhood;  James  W.,  Walter  Grant,  Arthur  Cavanaugh  and 
Paul,  making  still  a  bright  and  happy  circle,  yet  incomplete  without 
that  central  figure  whose  loving  ways,  quick  wit,  joyous  nature,  and 
thorough  hospitality  had  done  so  much  to  make  a  refined  home  ever 
charming  and  cheerful. 

True  in  his  friendship,  generous  in  his  nature,  James  W.  Tuohy 
was  open-hearted  and  charitable  to  all  deserving  objects,  as  his 
large  donations  to  many  of  Chicago's  churches  and  institutions  gives 
plain  testimony;  his  name  will  long  be  held  in  high  honor  among 
the  people  of  Chicago  as  a  gifted  and  noble  representative  of  the 
great  Irish  race  in  Chicago. 


HON.  EDWARD  FITZSIMMONS  DUNNE. 


Judge  Edward  Fitzsimmous  Dunne  was  born  in  Waterville, 
Conn.,  October  12th,  1853,  his  father  being  Patrick  W.  Dunne,  a 
native  of  Kings  Count}',  Ireland,  who  settled  in  New  York  State  iu 
1850.  His  father  had  taken  up  first  railroad  contracting  and  after- 
wards engaged  in  the  distilling  and  brewing  business.  In  1855,  he 
moved  to  Peoria,  being  at  different  times  there,  alderman,  member 
of  the  school  board,  and  representative  for  Peoria  in  the  State 
Legislature.  His  mother  was  Delia  Lawler,  daughter  of  Michael 
Lawler,  who  was  prominent  in  the  Irish  Rebellion  of  1798,  and  was 
wounded  therein.  His  business  was  tliat  of  a  contractor,  during 
the  prosecution  of  which  he  built  the  Galway  docks  and  other  large 
works  in  the  west  of  Ireland. 


544  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF   THE 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  public  schools  and  high 
school  of  Peoria,  and  after  a  preparatory  course  in  college  entered 
Trinity  College,  Dublin,  October  9th,  1871.  His  career  in  the  uni- 
versity was  a  brilliant  one  and  he  frequently  carried  off  first  honors 
at  the  examinations.  However,  he  was  not  permitted  to  take  his 
degree,  being  compelled  to  leave  at  the  end  of  three  years,  as  his 
father  had  encountered  heavy  financial  difficulties.  Returning  to 
Peoria,  where  his  father  was  running  a  flour  mill,  he  conducted  the 
affairs  of  the  mill  office  for  about  a  year  and  then  came  to  Chicago, 
commencing  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  W.  W.  O'Brien  and 
the  late  Judge  George  H.  Kettelle.  At  the  same  time  he  was 
studying  at  the  Union  College  of  Law,  and  in  1878  obtained  his 
license  to  practice  law,  and  entered  into  a  partnership  with  Wm.  J. 
llyiies  and  ex-Judge  Walter  B.  Scates  under  the  firm  name  of 
Scates,  Ilynes  &  Dunne.  At  the  end  of  two  years  Mr.  Scates  re- 
tired, and  Judge  Moran,  then  of  the  firm  of  Moran  &  English,  hav- 
ing gone  to  the  bench,  the  two  firms  consolidated  under  the  name 
of  llynes,  English  &  Dunne.  This  continued  until  1892,  when 
Judge  Dunne  was  elected  to  the  Circuit  Court  for  the  unexpired 
term  of  Judge  Driggs,  which  terminates  June,  1897. 

The  judge  while  in  practice  did  a  large  general  business,  having 
the  representation  of  many  such  large  corporations  as  the  Cooke 
Brewing  Co.,  Fortune  Bros.  Brewing  Co.,  the  Hibernian  Bank,  the 
Plamoudau  Manufacturing  Co.  and  many  others. 

He  was  married  August  16th,  1881,  to  Elizabeth  J.  Kelly,  a 
daughter  of  Edward  F.  Kelly,  late  a  member  of  the  firm  of  En- 
right  &  Kelly.  They  have  had  six  children,  of  whom  four  are 
living. 

Judge  Dunne  is  a  member  of  the  Iroquois  and  Columbus  Clubs, 
the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Royal  League,  and  is  at  present  presi- 
dent of  the  Des  Plaines  Council  of  the  Catholic  Benevolent  Legion. 
In  religion  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a  regular  attendant  of  St. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  545 

Luke's  Church  at  River  Forest,  while  in  politics  he  is  a  Democrat, 
but  his  heavy  professional  duties  will  not  permit  his  devoting  any 
considerable  time  to  political  matters. 

His  fine  home  at  River  Forest  is  eminently  adapted  for  the  needs 
of  his  family  as  well  as  for  the  genial  hospitality  it  is  his  chief 
pleasure  to  dispense  to  an  immense  circle  of  friends  who  admire 
his  good  personal  qualities  and  respect  his  great  professional  abili- 
ties. He  is  a  man  of  whom  the  American  Irish  of  Chicago  have 
every  reason  to  be  proud. 


JOHN   MARTIN  DOWLING. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  died  June  29th,  1896,  was  one 
of  Chicago's  best  known  and  most  prominent  Irish- American  busi- 
ness men.  Among  the  older  generation  of  citizens,  no  man  in  Chi- 
cago was  better  known,  and  the  deep  respect  as  well  as  the  great 
personal  popularity  in  which  he  was  held  was  evinced  by  the  im- 
mense attendance  at  his  funeral",  the  religious  services  of  which  were 
given  at  the  Cathedral  of  the  Holy  Name  and  thence  to  Calvary 
Cemetery. 

John  Martin  Bowling  was  born  in  Limerick,  Ireland,  December 
5th,  1844.  His  parents  were  Martin  and  Ann  (Lynch)  Dowling. 
His  father,  who  had  been  a  business  man  in  the  old  country,  came 
to  Canada  with  his  family  in  1850,  where  he  first  became  a  hotel 
keeper  and  later  entered  the  business  of  wholesale  grocery,  in 
Hamilton,  Canada.  In  1856,  when  John,  the  son,  was  twelve  years 
of  age,  he  removed  to  Chicago,  and  took  up  the  business  in  which 
he  had  gained  considerable  experience,  that  of  the  wholesale  and 


546  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

retail  grocery  trade,  in  premises  located  at  the  corner  of  Lake  and 
Paulina  Streets.  During  his  life  he  was  a  successful  man,  and 
was  accustomed  to  say  it  ran  in  the  family,  for  so  also  were  his 
father  and  grandfather,  both  of  whom  were  successful  business 
men  in  Ireland.  His  grandfather,  Thomas  Lynch,  was  a  dry  goods 
merchant,  and  a  man  of  considerable  wealth.  He  died  near  To- 
ronto, Canada,  in  the  early  "fifties"  while  he  was  on  a  tour  of  in- 
spection of  his  landed  interests  and  was  considering  further  in- 
vestments. 

John  M.  Bowling  received  his  primary  education  at  the  Hamil- 
ton public  schools,  and  while  his  parents  were  residing  in  Chicago, 
he  was  sent  to  St.  Michael's  College,  Toronto,  Canada,  to  complete 
his  education.  His  early  desire  was  for  a  business  career,  and 
when,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  left  school,  he  entered  his  father's 
store  for  a  few  years. 

Soon  after  the  war,  Mr.  Bowling,  in  company  with  his  brother, 
went  to  Little  Kock,  Ark.,  and  opened  a  general  store.  Success 
attended  their  efforts,  and  after  a  period  of  about  nine  years,  they 
returned  to  Chicago,  where  Mr.  Bowling  formed  a  partnership  with 
Martin  Bowling,  a  younger  brother,  under  the  firm  name  of  Bow- 
ling Bros.,  at  corner  of  Hubbard  Street  and  Ogle  Avenue.  Their 
business  continued  to  prosper  for  four  years  until  1878,  when  Mr. 
Bowling  disposed  of  his  interests  in  the  business  and  practically 
retired,  devoting  his  entire  time  to  his  real  estate  investments, 
which  were  of  quite  an  extensive  character. 

In  1875,  Mr.  Bowling,  Baniel  O'Hara  and  John  Cochran  were 
Chicago  commissioners  to  the  World's  Exposition  at  Vienna,  Aus- 
tria, and  transacted  every  duty  in  connection  with  that  office  to 
universal  satisfaction.  In  politics  his  views  were  those  of  the 
Bemocratic  party,  but  he  never  sought  for  political  office  nor  de- 
sired to  possess.  Betermined  to  know  his  country  thoroughly  he 
had  traveled  extensively.  A  Roman  Catholic,  he  was  a  strong  ad- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  647 

herent  of  the  church,  faithful  to  his  religion  and  energetic  and  eager 
of  its  interests.  The  Right-Key.  Bishop  Dowling,  of  Canada,  was 
another  of  his  brothers. 

Mr.  Dowling  was  married  January  19th,  1876,  to  Miss  Jennie  E. 
Keaue,  of  County  Clare,  Ireland,  daughter  of  William  Keane  and 
Maria  Gannon,  and  left  six  children — Edward,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Eveline  Marie;  Irene  May;  Laura  Madeline;  Helen,  and 
the  youngest,  John  Joseph,  a  bright,  lovable  boy  of  nine  years,  in 
whom  the  father  took  the  greatest  pride. 

John  Dowling  was  a  true  Irishman,  as  well  as  a  thoroughly  rep- 
resentative American.  A  business  man,  he  knew  the  value  of 
money,  but  in  a  good  cause  his  liberality  never  failed.  In  his  friend- 
ship, and  the  number  of  his  friends  was  legion,  his  sincerity  was 
unquestionable.  As  a  good  husband,  he  left  nothing  wanting,  and 
to  his  children  he  was  ever  a  fond  and  loving  father.  Well  may  it 
be  said  that  in  his  loss  a  blank  has  been  left  which  time  can  never 
fill,  and  that  every  Irish  American  in  Chicago  will  long  miss  the 
kindly  face  and  the  noble  nature  of  John  Martin  Dowling. 


ANDERSON   FOWLER. 


Anderson  Fowler,  the  managing  director  of  the  interests  of  the 
celebrated  Fowler  Bros.  (Limited),  belongs  to  that  hardy  class  of 
American  citizens  who  claim  a  heritage  of  Irish-Scotch  ancestry. 
His  father,  George  Fowler,  of  County  Fermanagh,  in  the  North  of 
Ireland,  traced  his  ancestry  to  a  reverend  member  of  the  Fowler 
family,  who  was  a  chaplain  in  Oliver  Cromwell's  army,  and  who 


648  BIOGRAPHICAL,   HISTORY    OF    THE 

came  to  Ireland  with  that  leader  and  located  in  that  section  of 
Northern  Ireland  in  which  our  subject  was  born.  The  Fowler  fam- 
ily was  celebated  in  England  long  before  this,  as  one  of  its  members, 
Charles  Fowler,  was  knighted  during  the  time  of  the  Crusades. 

This  English  yeoman  was  apprised  of  the  approach  of  the 
enemy's  array  by  the  tooting  of  an  owl,  which  noise  awakened  him 
from  his  sleep,  and  enabled  him  to  give  an  alarm  that  saved  the 
army  from  a  disastrous  surprise.  For  this  action  he  was  knighted, 
and  he  chose  an  owl  as  the  symbol  of  his  coat-of-arms.  This  ex- 
plains the  reason  that  an  owl  is  used  as  the  Fowler  crest.  His  ma- 
ternal ancestors,  Anderson  by  name,  were  of  the  sturdy  Scotch  race; 
thus  it  can  be  seen  that  our  subject  is  of  the  purest  Anglo-Saxon  ex- 
traction. 

He  was  born  in  County  Fermanagh,  North  Ireland,  on  June  16th, 
1843.  His  school  education  was  obtained  in  the  public  schools  of 
his  native  section.  When  but  twelve  years  of  age,  he  began  his 
business  career  by  entering  his  father's  business,  which  had  been 
established  in  1842.  This  business  was  in  the  wholesale  provision 
line,  a  line  he  has  followed,  with  slight  variations,  ever  since.  In 
1858  George  Fowler,  our  subject's  father,  retired  from  mercantile 
life,  and  seven  of  his  sons  formed  a  co-partnership  and  succeeded  to 
their  father's  business,  organizing  under  the  name  of  Fowler  Broth- 
el's, and  conducting  a  general  provision  business. 

Although  but  a  lad  of  fifteen  at  this  time,  Anderson  Fowler  was 
made  a  full  partner,  and  shared  the  profits  equally  with  his  broth- 
ers. 

The  eldest  of  the  sons  of  George  Fowler,  James,  is  a  canon  in 
the  Church  of  England,  and  was  never  interested  in  the  mercantile 
pursuits  of  his  brothers.  Upon  the  death  of  his  father,  his  broth- 
ers having  relinquished  all  their  claims  in  the  property  to  him,  he 
became  possessed  of  his  father's  landed  estates.  This  estate  is 
composed  of  farm  lands  located  in  North  Ireland,  in  which  George 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  649 

Fowler  had  invested  his  fortune  when  he  retired  from  business  in 
1858.  Tliis  property  has  never  been  a  profitable  investment. 

In  1862  the  Fowler  Brothers  began  operations  in  the  United 
States,  and  at  that  time  were  the  largest  dealers  in  butter  in  the 
world.  In  1863  they  commenced  business  in  Chicago,  and  since 
then  our  subject  has  divided  his  time  between  Liverpool,  New  York 
and  Chicago.  They  have  branches  or  agencies  in  all  of  the  large 
cities  of  Europe  and  America,  and  the  supervision  that  he  has  been 
compelled  to  give  these  different  foreign  agencies  has  forced  him 
to  make  no  less  than  seventy-seven  trips  across  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

The  Fowler  Brothers  have  always  transacted  their  business 
upon  sound  business  principles,  and  have  always  believed  that  a 
cash  basis  was  the  best  for  all  concerned.  Therefore,  they  have 
never  purchased  a  dollar's  worth  of  stock  on  credit.  They  have 
always  been  successful,  and  have  ever  been  esteemed  by  the  mer- 
cantile community  as  good  and  shrewd  business  managers,  who 
have  invariably  conducted  their  business  in  the  manner  that  brings 
the  best  and  most  remunerative  returns. 

In  1890  the  firm  decided  to  dispose  of  a  large  share  of  their  busi- 
ness to  a  company,  and  listed  their  stock  in  the  different  exchanges 
throughout  Europe  and  America.  Although  several  American 
houses  had  previously  done  a  similar  thing,  which  had  proved  disas- 
trous to  the  investors,  the  high  esteem  in  which  the  Fowler  Broth- 
ers were  held  caused  the  first  issue  of  $3,750,000  of  stock  to  be  ap- 
plied for  more  than  twice  over.  No  more  fitting  testimonial  of  the 
high  respect  the  public  has  for  the  business  principles  and  honor  of 
this  firm  can  be  cited.  The  name  of  the  company  upon  its  incor- 
poration became  known  as  the  "Fowler  Bros.,  Limited,"  and  of  this 
gigantic  company,  with  capital  stock  of  $3,750,000  (with  privilege 
of  increasing  same  to  $4,500,000),  our  subject,  Anderson  Fowler,  is 
managing  director  and  controlling  spirit.  All  of  this  capital  stock, 
excepting  $750,000,  is  held  by  European  investors.  One  cannot 


550  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

realize  the  magnitude  of  the  business  that  this  corporation  con- 
ducts. They  have  large  interests  in  the  different  cities  of  the  United 
States  and  Europe,  but  the  center  of  all  is  in  Chicago.  They  trans- 
port their  products  from  the  West  to  the  coast  in  their  own  refrig- 
erator cars,  which  they  manufacture  themselves  under  patents  of 
which  they  have  the  control. 

The  distributive  sales  of  this  company  exceed  the  immense  sum 
of  twenty-five  millions  of  dollars  annually — an  amount  so  large 
that  it  cannot  be  grasped  by  the  average  mind. 

Although  an  Anglo-Saxon  by  birth,  he  has  been  a  citizen  of  this, 
his  adopted  country,  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  takes  a 
deep  pride  in  being  a  citizen  of  this  Republic.  Politically  he  be- 
longs to  that  great,  intelligent  body  of  business  men  that  are  known 
as  independent. 

In  1877  our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Emily  Arthur,  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  William  Arthur,  an  eminent  divine,  of  London,  England. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Arthur  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  clergymen  of 
Great  Britain.  He  is  the  author  of  a  number  of  works  of  great  lit- 
erary merit,  the  most  widely  read  and  most  popular  being  entitled 
"The  Tongue  of  Fire."  He  was  deeply  interested  in  the  Union 
cause  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  and  advocated  both  with  his 
pen  and  his  voice  many  means  to  assist  the  Northern  cause.  He 
used  his  powerful  influence  to  introduce  the  American  envoys  in 
such  manner  as  to  enable  them  to  settle  the  "Trent"  affair,  that 
caused  so  much  disquietude  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  both 
speedily  and  satisfactorily. 

The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  Fowler  has  been  blessed 
with  eleven  children,  eight  of  whom  are  still  living,  and  in  the  circle 
of  his  home,  which  their  happy  voices  and  pleasant,  cheerful  coun- 
tenances enhance  in  happiness,  he  finds  that  true  content  only 
found  by  a  loving  husband  and  father. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  551 

He  is  a  Methodist,  and  is  ever  ready,  both  with  purse  and  in- 
fluence, to  assist  in  any  worthy  religious  cause. 

Such  is  his  biography.  In  conclusion  it  can  be  truthfully  stated 
that  Anderson  Fowler  has  ever,  in  passing  through  life,  used  honor- 
able principles  that  place  him  in  a  high  position  among  the  honor- 
able business  men  of  the  world.  He  has  ever  conducted  his  business 
affairs  in  such  a  manner  as  to  gain  the  respect  of  the  community; 
he  has  ever  endeavored  to  do  to  others  as  he  would  be  done  by. 
With  an  untarnished  name  and  unapproachable  reputation,  hon- 
ored by  his  fellow  citizens,  and  revered  by  his  ma,ny  friends,  who 
love  him  for  his  sterling  integrity,  there  is  no  one  who  is  more  en- 
titled to  a  prominent  position  in  this  biographical  work  than  is  An- 
derson Fowler. 


JEREMIAH   H.   CARMODY. 


Jeremiah  H.  Carmody  was  born  October  15th,  1854,  near  the 
picturesque  and  historic  Kilsham  Abbey,  County  Limerick,  Ireland, 
which  is  celebrated  as  having  been  once  occupied  by  the  Danes 
when  those  old  sea  kings  were  devastating  the  English  coast  with 
fire  and  sword.  The  ancient  abbey,  now  completely  enveloped  in 
ivy,  is  as  Burns  describes,  "Still  beauteous  in  decay,"  and  suggest- 
ing peace  rather  than  war  and  conquest 

Mr.  Cannody's  father  was  a  thorough  Irishman,  born  at  Knock- 
fevna,  County  Limerick,  in  the  year  1805.  He  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica in  1800,  settling  in  Chicago,  where  he  died  very  suddenly  two 
years  afterwards  at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  He  had  married  in  1841 
Miss  Johanna  Hannan,  a  native  of  County  Limerick,  Ireland,  and 

29 


552  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 

they  had  eleven  children,  of  whom  our  subject— the  youngest  of  five 
boys — was  the  eighth  in  order  of  birth.  His  mother  died  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-two  years.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
Daniel  Carmody,  was  quite  a  noted  character,  for  he  weighed  three 
hundred  pounds  and  was  known  far  and  wide  as  "Big  Dan." 

Jeremiah  H.  Carmody  was  a  lad  of  eleven  when  he  came  to 
America.  Living  in  the  country,  the  schooling  he  had  up  to  that 
time  obtained  had  been  of  a  meager  order.  On  arriving  in  Chicago, 
therefore,  he  was  at  once  sent  to  the  Dore  public  school  in  the 
then  eighth  ward — now  the  nineteenth — where  he  attended  for  a 
year  and  a  half,  being  then  obliged  by  the  circumstances  of  his 
parents  to  set  about  making  a  living.  His  first  venture  was  with 
the  firm  of  Scanlan  Bros.  &  Calburn,  candy  merchants,  with  which 
he  remained  twelve  months,  afterwards  working  in  the  grocery 
business  for  two  years  with  T.  J.  Fitzgerald,  and  then  for  three 
years  with  J.  K.  Powers,  buying  the  latter's  business  at  the  end 
of  that  time  with  his  savings  and  starting  out  for  himself. 
Only  nineteen  years  of  age,  his  abilities  were  of  the  highest 
order,  and  he  so  successfully  conducted  his  business  on  the 
corner  of  Sholto  and  Gurley  Streets  for  four  years  that  he  was 
able  to  make  a  most  advantageous  sale.  His  next  essay  was 
in  the  commission  business  in  Webster  County,  Iowa,  where 
he  remained  for  one  year,  and  returning  to  Chicago  entered 
the  employ  of  the  Weare  Commission  Company,  with  whom 
he  remained  twelve  years.  With  a  partner  he  again  started  in  bus- 
iness under  the  name  of  Carmody  &  Heath,  commission  merchants, 
at  274  South  Water  Street,  and  conducted  for  five  years,  when  he 
sold  out  on  acceptance,  in  1893,  of  appointment  as  inspector  in  the 
Sewerage  Department  of  the  city.  This  was  under  the  late  Carter 
Harrison,  but  his  duties  have  been  performed  in  so  exemplary  a 
manner  that  he  has  retained  the  position  ever  since. 

Independent  in  his  politics,  Mr.  Carmody  has  always  taken  the 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  563 

greatest  interest  in  all  public  affairs.  He  is  a  member  of  St. 
Agatha's  Catholic  Church,  and  also  belongs  to  a  number  of  civic 
organizations,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  the  Knights  of  St. 
Patrick,  of  which  he  has  been  Priest  five  years;  the  Royal  Arca- 
num; the  Royal  League,  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 


EDWARD   F.  CULLERTON. 


Edward  F.  Cullerton,  one  of  Chicago's  representative  citizens  as 
well  as  successful  business  men,  is  a  native  of  this  city,  where  he  was 
born  October  llth,  1842,  about  six  miles  from  the  present  City  Hall, 
llis  parents,  Edward  and  Catharine  Cullerton,  came  to  Chicago 
from  Ireland  in  1835,  and  were  residents  of  the  city  of  their  adop- 
tion until  at  a  ripe  old  age  they  were  removed  by  death. 

The  subject  of  this  brief  sketch  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Chicago,  and  commenced  active  work  when  quite  young. 
His  first  employment  was  in  the  manufacture  of  bricks,  after  which 
he  was  for  several  years  teamster  in  the  packing  houses.  He  next 
worked  on  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal  as  driver,  station  agent, 
captain  and  boat  owner,  and  for  many  years  was  the  agent  of  the 
Walker  &  Brunson  Towing  Company  at  Bridgeport. 

Mr.  Cullerton  was  elected  to  the  City  Council  from  the  Sixth 
Ward  in  the  year  1871,  arid  continuously  represented  that  district 
in  the  council  until  1892.  During  this  period  he  was  elected  and 
served  as  a  member  of  the  House  in  the  Twenty-eighth  General  As- 
sembly. While  in  the  City  Council  he  served  on  the  Finance  Com- 
mittee, was  for  seven  years  its  Chairman,  and  was  the  acknowl- 
edged leader  of  that  body. 


554  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF   THE 

Mr.  Oullerton  was  married  in  1893  to  Winuifred  Dyer.  They 
hftve  no  children. 

While  Mr.  Cullerton  has  given  much  of  his  time  to  the  service 
of  his  native  City  and  State,  he  has  also  been  active  in  business  life. 
He  can  boast  of  hosts  of  friends,  and  holds  a  place  among  our  most 
useful  and  most  highly  reputed  and  popular  citizens. 


MARTIN  A.  DELANY. 


Martin  A.  DeLany  was  born  of  Irish  parentage,  October  4th,  1844, 
in  Newport  Township,  Lake  County,  Ills.  His  father,  John  DeLany, 
came  while  yet  a  young  man  to  Chicago  in  the  year  1840.  He  then 
went  to  Lake  County,  Ills.,  and  having  selected  a  tract  of  wild  land, 
purchased  it  from  the  United  States  government  as  soon  as  it  came 
into  the  market.  Here  he  settled  and  shortly  afterwards  married, 
his  wife's  maiden  name  being  Maher;  together  they  undertook  the 
privations  and  hardships  of  a  pioneer  life,  seldom  seeing  anything 
of  the  outside  world  except  when  Chicago — forty  miles  distant  and 
at  that  time  by  no  means  the  Chicago  of  to-day — was  visited  to  buy 
the  necessary  family  supplies.  A  large  family  of  children — of 
Avhom  Martin  A.  was  the  second  eldest — was  here  raised,  and  each 
of  the  boys  as  he  grew  up,  had  to  take  part  in  the  task  of  clearing 
and  developing  the  land.  The  settlement  was  then  too  new  to  pos- 
sess either  township  or  county  organization,  and  Mr.  DeLany  took 
an  active  part  in  all  the  preliminary  movements  which  resulted  in 
the  creation  of  Lake  County  and  its  township  and  school  district 
organization.  In  his  house,  too,  was  held  the  first  meeting  of  set- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  555 

tiers  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  school  house,  a  work  which  was 
accomplished  by  the  voluntary  contribution  of  small  sums  and  the 
joint  labor  of  the  people.  The  building  was  located  on  Mr.  De- 
I^auy's  farm,  some  eight  miles  northwest  of  the  present  site  of  Wau- 
kegan,  which  was  at  that  time  a  mere  steamboat  landing  known  as 
Little  Fort.  In  that  school  house  the  subject  of  this  sketch  ob- 
tained what,  education  he  could  in  the  common  branches,  and  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  commenced  a  course  of  special  study  at  an  acad- 
emy in  Waukegan,  after  which  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  in 
that  city  while  employed  as  a  teacher  in  the  schools  adjacent 
thereto.  After  two  years'  reading  of  this  description,  he,  in  I860, 
entered  the  law  department  of  Michigan  University,  and  there  pur- 
sued the  full  course  of  study,  graduating  in  1868.  In  the  spring  of 
1868  Mr.  DeLany  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Chicago;  he  then  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Elgin  and  St.  Charles,  His 
success,  however,  was  small,  for  the  opportunities  were  naturally 
of  a  very  limited  character;  in  the  fall  of  1868  he  returned  to  Chi- 
cago and  opened  an  office  on  Dearborn  Street.  His  means  being 
exhausted,  he  was  forced  once  more — during  the  winter  of  1868  and 
1869 — to  resort  to  teaching,  this  time  at  Libertyville,  inLakeCounty. 

The  May  following,  he  returned  to  Chicago,  once  more  starting 
in  business  and  with  full  determination  to  succeed.  In  the  great 
fire  of  October,  1871,  he  suffered  the  loss  of  all  his  personal  effects; 
but  immediately  after  the  fire,  business  was  re-commenced,  and  has 
continued  successfully  ever  since.  His  practice  is  chiefly  in  probate, 
commercial  and  real  estate  law  and  the  law  of  contracts.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Chicago  Bar  Association. 

Mr.  DeLany  was  elected  in  1876  to  the  Illinois  State  Senate  from 
the  Sixth  Senatorial  District,  North  Chicago,  and  in  that  body 
served  through  the  sessions  of  the  Thirtieth  and  Thirty-first.  General 
Assemblies.  As  an  active  Democrat,  in  the  memorable  struggle 
which  resulted  in  the  election  of  Hon.  David  Davis  to  the  United 


556  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

States  Senate,  he  took  a  leading  part,  as  also  in  the  passage  of  the 
laws  establishing  the  Appellate  Courts  in  Illinois,  and  was  the 
author  of  the  act  creating  the  Probate  Court 

In  1879  Mr.  DeLany  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Chicago 
Board  of  Education,  and  after  one  year's  service  was  elected  its 
President,  and  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office,  was  unani- 
mously re-elected  to  the  same  honorable  position.  As  a  member  of 
that  board,  he  was  a  chief  advocate  in  all  measures  tending  to  the 
welfare  of  the  public  schools  of  Chicago,  and  was  a  leading  spirit 
in  the  movement  which  resulted  in  1880  in  the  election  of  Mr. 
George  Rowland  as  Superintendent  of  Schools. 

Mr.  DeLany  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  was  married  in  December, 
1870,  to  Miss  Kate  Wetzel,  daughter  of  Nicholas  Wetzel  of  Wauke- 
gan,  by  whom  he  has  three  daughters,  Emma,  Mary  and  Eleanor, 
and  two  sons — Clarence  and  Russell.  The  oldest  daughter — Emma 
—is  a  graduate  of  Vassar  College,  New  York;  where  the  other  two 
are  now  students. 


JOHN  CAMPION. 


John  Campion,  Second  Assistant  Chief  of  the  Chicago  Fire  De- 
partment, was  born  in  County  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  February,  1848. 
His  father,  Michael  Campion,  left  Ireland  for  the  United  States  in 
1848,  settling  first  at  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  later  at  Wappingers  Falls, 
dying  at  the  latter  in  1851;  while  his  mother,  Julia  (Persell)  Cam- 
pion, was  also  born  in  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  and  died  in  Chicago  in 
1881. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  St.  Mary's  school  on 
Lake  Street  and  the  Jones  public  school  on  Clark  Street  until  he 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  557 

was  twelve  years  of  age,  wheii,  in  order  to  assist  his  mother  in  the 
support  of  the  family,  he  left  school  and  secured  work  at  the  old 
King  tannery  on  Sherman  Street,  at  the  same  time  attending  night 
school.  His  first  duty  was  to  watch  the  bark  piles  and  later  he  was 
engaged  in  piling  bark.  Having  continued  at  this  business  for  one 
summer,  he  secured  a  position  with  Washburn  &  Walker,  large 
manufacturers  of  cots  and  beds  during  the  war  time.  He  next 
found  occupation  with  the  Chicago  Times,  with  which  he  remained 
three  years,  filling  various  positions,  commencing  with  that  of  the 
historical  "devil."  During  this  time,  with  two  others,  he  was  se- 
verely hurt  in  an  accident;  the  roof  of  the  Times  building,  owing  to 
the  weight  of  snow,  fell  through  three  stories.  Later,  and  during 
the  time  the  Times  was  suppressed,  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Joseph 
Duffy,  who  had  a  news  stand  in  the  Tremont  House.  He  recalls  as 
an  interesting  fact  that  the  day  the  Times  was  closed  by  the  Federal 
authorities,  people  were  offering  f  1.00  for  a  copy  of  the  paper. 

Soon  after  this  he  secured  work  at  the  stock  yards,  shipping 
cattle  there  until  November  llth,  1869,  when  he  secured  an  appoint- 
ment in  the  Fire  Department.  In  1866,  while  engaged  in  shipping 
East,  he  and  a  companion  left  some  cattle  they  had  on  the  road  and 
returned  to  Buffalo  to  take  part  in  the  contemplated  Fenian  inva- 
sion of  Canada. 

April  1st,  1870,  he  became  a  regular  member  of  the  Chicago  Fire 
Department  and  was  assigned  to  the  steamer  Little  Giant  as  pipe- 
man.  Of  this  company,  at  the  time  of  the  big  fire,  he  was  head  pipe- 
man,  while  Assistant  Chief  Musham  was  foreman,  and  to  them  be- 
longs the  credit  of  obtaining  the  first  water.  In  1873  he  was  made 
captain  and  was  given  charge  of  the  company  that  protected  the 
Exposition  of  that  year  on  the  Lake  Front,  being  at  that  time  the 
youngest  man  of  his  rank  in  the  department.  Later  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  Engine  No.  2,  given  position  of  captain  of  No.  0 — Little 
Giant — and  thence  transferred  to  No.  17,  No.  1,  and  in  1881  becom- 


558  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

ing  chief  of  the  Seventh  Battalion,  with  headquarters  on  Twelfth 
Street.  Here  he  served  seven  years,  then  being  transferred  to 
Battalion  No.  5,  with  headquarters  at  Washington  and  Clinton 
Streets.  lu  1893  he  was  made  third  assistant  Chief,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  second  assistant  Chief,  and  third  in  command  of  the 
Chicago  Fire  Department,  a  position  of  very  grave  responsibility, 
the  duties  of  which  he  has  performed  to  the  absolute  satisfaction 
of  the  Fire  Department  as  well  as  the  general  public. 


COL.   FRANCIS  T.  COLBY. 

No  happier  example  of  the  term  American  Irish  could  be  dis- 
covered than  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  Francis  T.  Colby. 
Though  born  in  Chicago,  the  descendant  on  his  father's  side  of  one 
of  the  old  New  England  families,  it  is  from  his  mother,  Mary 
Whelan  as  she  was,  that  he  has  inherited  that  love  of  co'untry 
which  has  made  the  name  of  Irishman  synonymous  with  that  of 
patriotism.  Mary  Wlielau  was  the  third  child  of  Edward  and 
Elizabeth  Whelan,  and  was  born  near  Tullow,  in  County  Carlow. 
Edward  Whelan  was  a  prosperous  tenant  farmer  in  Ireland,  but 
becoming  involved  in  the  uprising  of  '48,  he  was  compelled  to  flee 
with  his  family  to  America.  Thereupon  he  settled  in  Chicago, 
dying  there  in  1880  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  Proudly  he 
used  to  boast  that  there  was  not  a  generation  of  his  family  which 
had  not  "done  something  for  the  old  land,"  instancing  his  uncle, 
James  Whelan,  who  was  transported  for  "treason,"  and  his  grand- 
father, Edward  Whelan,  who  gave  up  his  life  for  participation  in 
the  Rebellion  of  '98.  Heart  and  soul  Colonel  Colby  is  devoted  to 
the  mother  land,  and  did  Ireland  possess  many  such  ardent  workers 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  561 

as  himself,  her  freedom  in  the  near  future  from  English  rule  and 
mismanagement  would  be  assured. 

The  Colbys  are  among  the  oldest  and  leading  of  New  England 
families,  tracing  back  their  settlement  at  Salem,  Massachusetts, 
to  1630,  when  Anthony  Colby,  who  was  born  at  Beccles,  England, 
in  1590,  adventured  the  perils  of  the  Atlantic  and  found  a  home 
iu  the  British  colonies  in  America,  Anthony  and  Susanna  Oolby, 
his  wife,  appear  among  the  companions  of  Edward  Winthrop  when 
returning  from  a  visit  to  England  in  the  interest  of  the  Plymouth 
settlements.  Their  son,  Isaac,  married  a  Miss  Rowley,  to  whom 
was  born  another  Isaac  in  1680,  who  took  to  himself  in  marriage  a 
Miss  Fowler.  Another  Isaac  resulted  in  1709.  Ee  lived  at  An- 
dover  and  Haver-hill,  and  his  sou,  William  Davis  Colby,  born  in 
1742,  took  part  in  the  French  and  Indian  War  of  1762,  afterwards 
marrying  Elizabeth  Straw.  Living  in  Hopkinton,  New  Hamp- 
shire, they  reared  a  son  Isaac,  who  was  born  in  1780,  and  twenty- 
three  years  later  married  Miss  Eunice  Fagg.  They  lived  at  Boston 
and  Amherst,  Isaac  Colby  dying  there  in  1840.  William  Colby, 
their  son,  was  born  at  Boston  in  1804  and  died  at  Detroit,  Michigan, 
in  1875.  He  had  married  in  1825  Miss  Sarah  Clogstou,  and  they 
went  to  live  at  Amherst,  Massachusetts.  Here  they  had  six  chil- 
dren born,  among  whom  was  Andrew  J.  Colby,  the  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch. 

.  Francis  T.  Colby  was  born  in  this  city,  September  27th,  1860. 
He  attended  the  Brown,  Hayes  and  old  Central  High  School,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  June,  1876,  entering  the  Chicago  University 
the  same  year.  He  graduated,  taking  his  degree  with  honor  in 
1880.  While  pursuing  his  university  career  he  was  also  studying 
law  under  the  able  tutorship  of  Judge  James  Goggin,  and  soon 
after  his  graduation  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  on  his  twenty-first 
birthday. 

In  his  chosen  profession  Colonel  Colby  has  achieved  eminent 


562  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

success,  and  in  such  departments  of  the  law  as  deal  with  the  exam- 
ination of  real  estate  titles  and  in  general  probate  matters  he  has 
gained  a  reputation  second  to  none  in  the  West.  Among  the  legal 
societies  his  activity  has  brought  him  well  to  the  fore,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  past  he  has  been  numbered  in  the  foremost  members  of 
the  Chicago  Bar  Association,  the  Chicago  Law  Institute  and  the 
American  Bar  Association. 

His  heavy  duties  professionally  and  in  connection  with  his 
military  matters  have  left  him  but  little  time  to  devote  to  political 
affairs,  but  he  is  known  throughout  the  city  as  a  Democrat  of  thor- 
oughly fixed  opinions.  Though  several  times  requested,  he  has 
always  refused  to  be  a  candidate  for  public  office  of  any  descrip- 
tion, but  he  was  in  1888  nominated  by  the  workingmen's  party  for 
State's  Attorney.  Though  he  declined  even  this  nomination  in 
writing,  his  name  was  retained  on  the  ticket,  and  he  received  the 
compliment  of  more  than  12,000  votes. 

His  connection  with  military  matters  is  one  to  be  well  proud 
of.  From  his  early  youth  he  has  taken  a  peculiar  interest  in  army 
affairs,  and  the  short  sketch  of  the  Seventh  Regiment  Illinois  Na- 
tional Guard  which  follows  testifies  to  the  good  work  he  has  done. 

Colonel  Colby's  abilities  as  a  lawyer  have  gained  him  big  re- 
turn, both  in  reputation  and  financially.  He  has  been  able  to 
invest  considerably  in  real  estate,  which  his  legal  knowledge  and 
ready  grasp  of  the  moment  have  enabled  him  to  select  with  most 
excellent  judgment.  His  relaxations  have  not  been  many,  but  he 
has  found  time  for  extensive  travel  and  is  at  home  not  only  in 
America  but  also  in  Great  Britain,  his  loved  Ireland — he  visited  his 
mother's  birth-place  in  1890— and  the  leading  European  centers  of 
art,  science,  literature  and  general  culture. 

He  is  essentially  a  home  man,  his  wife  and  family  are  always  to 
him  in  the  first  place.  Though  an  active  member  of  the  Columbus 
Club,  that  phase  of  existence  known  as  club  life  holds  small  attrac- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  563 

tions  for  the  brilliant  lawyer,  the  born  soldier,  but  first  and  before 
everything  else,  the  devoted  husband  and  the  fond  father. 

His  wife,  Rose  L.  Sullivan,  is  a  native  of  Chicago,  of  Irish  birth, 
as  her  name  conclusively  shows.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Patrick  and 
Elizabeth  (McKenna.)  Sullivan.  They  have  had  six  children,  Fran- 
cis Everett,  Francesca  Beatrice,  Rosita  Marie,  Evelyn  Florence  Ce- 
celia, Genevieve  Lucile  and  Imogene  Helen;  of  these  the  eldest, 
Francis  Everett  and  Rosita  Marie,  are  dead. 

Colonel  Colby  has  since  he  completed  his  educational  course 
been  prominently  connected  with  various  fraternal  and  benevolent 
societies.  He  was  one  of  the  early  members  of  the  Catholic  Order 
of  Foresters,  organized  the  Uniform  Rank  of  that  body,  and  was 
elected  its  first  Supreme  Commander  in  1892.  lie  was  president  of 
the  United  Irish,  Societies  in  1890.  In  1891  he  became  First  State 
President  of  the  Catholic  Benevolent  Legion,  and  he  also  holds 
high  offices  in  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  the  Independent  Order  of  For- 
esters, the  Catholic  Benevolent  Legion,  the  Royal  League  and  the 
Royal  Arcanum. 


SEVENTH  INFANTRY,  ILLINOIS  NATIONAL  GUARD. 

The  Hibernian  Rifles  was  probably  the  result  of  that  quality  in 
the  Irish  race,  which  has  linked  its  name  with  all  of  the  important 
battles  of  modern  times,  coupled  with  the  hope  which  "springs 
eternal"  in  the  Irish  breast,  that  the  time  may  come  when  they  can 
strike  a  blow  for  the  Old  Land.  The  old  Second  Regiment,  Illi- 
nois National  Guard,  composed  largely  of  veterans  of  the  rebellion 
of  1861-1865,  was  but'  the  expression  of  those  sentiments  which  in 
that  war  produced  Col.  Mulligan's  regiment  from  Chicago.  Each 
generation  has  given  evidence  of  the  valor  and  patriotism  of  the 
Irish  people,  by  the  formation  of  regiments  of  soldiers,  ready  to 


564  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

• 

respond  to  the  call  of  their  native  or  adopted  country.  The  Hi- 
bernian Rifles  was  formed  in  1876  and  at  first  consisted  of  a  single 
company  composed  of  members  belonging  to  the  Ancient  Order  of 
Hibernians.  The  number  of  companies  subsequently  increased  to 
four  and  a  battalion  was  formed.  The  organization  was  incorpor- 
ated October  31st,  1881,  the  incorporators  being  James  F.  Lusk, 
Thomas  P.  Shanahan  and  John  R.  Cook,  while  Joseph  Ruberry, 
John  Kiusella,  John  Mulcahey  and  Moses  G.  Flood  composed  the 
Board  of  Directors.  The  progress  of  the  battalion  was  gratifying 
and  supported  by  a  united  organization  of  great  strength,  it  was 
soon  equipped.  Subsequently  differences  having  arisen  in  the  An- 
cient Order  of  Hibernians,  which  resulted  in  a  division  of  that  or- 
ganization, the  position  of  the  Hibernian  Rifles  became  correspond- 
ingly weakened,  for  it  had  members  from  both  sides  in  its  ranks. 
The  wise  action  of  its  officers,  however,  kept  it  from  drifting  upon 
the  rocks  which  have  shattered  so  many  Irish  organizations,  and  it 
continued  to  thrive.  Among  its  commanding  officers  during  those 
years  were  Majors  Flood,  Kiusella,  Brophy,  Lusk  and  Ford.  In 
1889  Thomas  L.  Hartigan,  a  graduate  of  the  United  States  Military 
Academy  at  West  Point  and  former  Adjutant  of  the  Second  Regi- 
ment, I.  N.  G.,  by  the  unanimous  request  of  the  officers  of  the  Rifles 
took  command  of  the  organization  and  soon  enlarged  it  to  a  regi- 
ment, becoming  its  first  Colonel.  Col.  Colby,  who  while  the  or- 
ganization was  a  battalion  had  been  appointed  by  Col.  Hartigau 
Inspector  of  Rifle  Practice,  with  the  rank  of  Captain,  was  now 
elected  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  regiment.  It  had  long  been  the 
desire  of  the  regiment  to  become  a  recognized  part  of  the  State 
troops,  and  accordingly  Messrs.  Hartigan  and  Colby  were  directed 
to  make  application  to  have  the  regiment  mustered  into  the  Na- 
tional Guard.  Joseph  W.  Fifer,  who  was  then  Governor  of  the 
State,  declared  that  he  would  like  to  muster  in  the  regiment,  but 
that  the  law  restricted  the  membership  of  the  National  Guard,  so 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  565 

that  he  could  not  do  so  unless  an  amendatory  law  should  be  passed. 
Such  an  act  was  immediately  drafted  and  introduced  into  the  Sen- 
ate and  House  of  Representatives  and  subsequently  passed  and  be- 
came a  law.  Governor  Fifer  then  refused  to  carry  out  his  agree- 
ment to  muster  in  the  regiment,  and  the  result  was  very  depressing 
on  the  organization  and  seemed  to  threaten  its  existence.  To  add 
to  the  complications  Colonel  llartigan's  professional  engagements 
compelled  him  to  resign  the  Colonelcy  of  the  regiment.  Major 
James  II.  Lynch  was  elected  to  fill  the  remaining  two  months  of  his 
term,  Colonel  Colby  being  unwilling  at  that  time  to  assume  the  re- 
sponsibility of  the  position,  as  he  \vas  taking  an  active  part  in  the 
gubernatorial  campaign  which  was  then  in  progress,  Governor 
Fifer  being  a  candidate  for  re-election,  and  being  opposed  by  John 
P.  Altgeld. 

The  annual  election  of  the  regiment  resulted  in  the  choice  of 
Mr.  Colby  for  Colonel,  and  he  at  once  proceeded  to  Springfield  and 
made  formal  application  to  Governor  Altgeld  (who  had  in  the  mean- 
time been  chosen  Governor  of  the  State)  to  have  the  regiment  mus- 
tered into  the  National  Guard.  After  a  thorough  review  of  all  the 
circumstances  surrounding  the  matter  the  Governor  decided  that 
the  honor  of  the  executive  office  of  the  State  was  involved  in  the 
matter  and  that  it  was  his  duty  to  carry  out  the  promise  made  by 
Governor  Fifer,  and  which  the  latter  had  refused  to  fulfill.  Ac- 
cordingly, on  the  22nd  day  of  February,  1893,  an  order  was  issued 
directing  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  State  to  proceed  to  Chicago 
to  muster  in  the  Hibernian  Rifles  as  the  Seventh  Infantry-,  Illinois 
National  Guards.  The  long  series  of  disappointments  which  the 
regiment  had  undergone  had  reduced  the  eight  companies  so  that 
they  did  not  at  that  time  include  more  than  126  men  and  officers. 
Colonel  Colby  immediately  set  at  work  upon  the  task  of  building 
up  the  regiment  to  the  number  which  the  law  required  in  order  to 
be  mustered  in  as  a  regiment,  viz:  425  men  and  officers.  This  was 


566  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP    THE 

accomplished  by  the  most  persistent  effort,  and  the  regiment  was 
mustered  in  upon  the  21st  day  of  June,  1893.  Colonel  Colby  was 
unanimously  elected  Colonel  of  the  new  regiment,  and  his  first  of- 
ficial act  was  to  appoint  Captain  Thomas  L.  Hartigan  adjutant  of 
the  regiment.  An  armory  was  procured  at  23  Lake  Street,  Chicago, 
the  rent  of  which  was  paid  by  the  State;  rifles,  uniforms  and  other 
equipments  were  also  procured  from  the  same  source.  The  Rev- 
erend Edward  A.  Kelly  was  appointed  Chaplain,  Major  Michael  E. 
McGrath,  surgeon;  Captain  Jeremiah  S.  Hyland,  inspector  of  rifle 
practice.  A  school  for  officers  was  established,  which  held  sessions 
every  Monday  night,  each  company  drilled  every  week  and  bat- 
talion drills  were  held  monthly.  The  following  were  the  company 
commanders  in  1893: 

Captains  John  Hayden,  Michael  Punch,  Michael  D.  Sullivan, 
Jeremiah  O'Hearn,  Daniel  Moriarity,  Charles  Murray,  Patrick  M. 
Boggan,  William  J.  Carroll  and  Patrick  L.  McArdle.  Marcus  Kav- 
anagh  was  elected  lieutenant  colonel  December  30th,  1893.  On 
June  17th,  1894,  the  regiment  was  ordered  out  upon  its  first  tour  of 
duty.  The  telegraph  order  was  received  at  11:20  P.  M.,  and,  al- 
though the  regiment  was  scattered  from  South  Chicago  to  Lake 
View  and  from  the  lake  to  Austin,  the  arrangements  for  its  mobili- 
zation were  so  perfect  and  so  well  carried  out  that  the  entire  force 
left  Chicago  on  a  special  train  at  5:50  A.  M.,  June  18th.  The  com- 
mand arrived  at  its  destination,  Mount  Olive,  Macoupin  County,  at. 
2:30  P.  M.  on  that  day,  and  immediately  entered  upon  the  perform- 
ance of  the  duties  assigned.  Peace  was  at  once  restored,  and  the 
civil  authorities  enabled  to  perform  their  duties.  On  June  20th, 
having  received  the  thanks  of  the  Governor  for  its  "prompt  re- 
sponse, efficient  service  and  soldierly  bearing,"  the  regiment  re- 
turned to  Chicago.  M.  Frank  Gallagher  was  appointed  quarter- 
master of  the  regiment  on  June  30th,  1894,  and  held  that  position 
until  his  death,  February  29th,  1896,  when  Michael  H.  Hoey  was 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  567 

appointed  to  succeed  him.  The  next  duties  which  the  regiment  was 
called  upon  to  perform  were  in  connection  with  the  riots  in  Chicago 
and  vicinity  in  July,  1894.  The  regiment  responded  promptly  to  the 
order  for  its  assembly  on  July  6th,  1894,  and  remained  on  duty  until 
July  27th,  1894,  when  it  was  relieved.  During  a  great  portion  of 
this  time  a  battalion  of  the  regiment  was  the  only  force  protecting 
the  central  portion  of  the  city,  the  other  battalion  and  the  remain- 
ing regiments  and  police  force  being  distributed  upon  the  outskirts 
of  the  city. 

At  different  times  during  the  tour  of  duty,  portions  of  the  com- 
mand were  stationed  at  Kiverdale,  Harvey,  West  Pullman,  Blue 
Island,  Hawthorne  and  the  Burlington  and  Quincy  Railroad  Yards 
at  Sixteenth  Street  and  Western  Avenue.  At  the  time  of  this  tour 
Captain  Daniel  T.  McGraw  had  succeeded  Captain  Hayden;  Mar- 
tin Duhig,  Captain  O'Hearn;  Jeremiah  J.  Sisk,  Captain  Murray; 
and  John  F.  Ryan,  Captain  Boggan. 

The  regiment  had  now  increased  so  that  it  became  necessary  to 
procure  larger  quarters  and  the  Illinois  Central  offices  at  Lake 
Street  and  Michigan  Avenue,  were  secured  and  fitted  up.  Four  new 
companies  were  added  to  the  regiment,  commanded  by  Captains 
Michael  E.  Cassidy,  Charles  V.  McAdam,  John  M.  Clasby  and  Philip 
J.  Barry.  The  Regimental  Band,  under  the  leadership  of  Principal 
Musician  John  F.  Forrest,  and  a  drum  and  bugle  corps,  were  also 
organized.  Colonel  Colby,  with  the  assistance  of  Quartermaster 
Gallagher,  collected  $5,500  and  purchased  dress  uniforms  for  the 
command  in  June,  1895.  In  July,  1895,  the  regiment  had  its  first 
encampment  for  practice  drill  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  acquitted 
itself  to  the  satisfaction  of  Governor  Altgeld  and  Adjutant-General 
Orendorff.  January  7,  1896,  Captain  Hartigan  resigned  the  adju- 
tancy of  the  regiment  and  Orlando  W.Keatley  was  appointed  to  suc- 
ceed him.  On  March  4, 1896,  Dr.  Thomas  J.  Sullivan  was  appointed 
major  and  surgeon  in  place  of  Major  McGrath,  who  resigned  upon 


568  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

his  removal  to  Colorado.  On  March  24,  1896,  Colonel  Colby  re- 
signed the  colonelcy  of  the  regiment,  and  by  special  order  issued  by 
Governor  Altgeld  was  placed  upon  the  veteran  roll  of  the  Illinois 
National  Guard,  with  the  rank  of  Colonel.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mar- 
cus Kavanagh  was  elected  to  succeed  him.  At  the  time  of  Colonel 
Colby's  resignation  the  regiment  included  twelve  companies,  band, 
drum  and  bugle  corps  and  a  hospital  corps,  and  numbered  726  men 
and  officers.  On  January  23rd  Governor  John  R.  Tanner  conferred 
upon  Colonel  Colby  the  Illinois  National  Guard  Veteran  Decoration 
for  his  services  to  the  Guard.  In  May,  1897,  the  regiment  removed 
to  its  present  spacious  armory  on  the  corner  of  Wabash  avemie  and 
llubbard  Court,  and  under  the  able  leadership  of  Colonel  Kava- 
nagh is  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

In  point  of  membership,  discipline  and  drill  the  regiment  is  sec- 
ond to  none  in  the  State. 


FRANCIS    AGNEW. 


Large-hearted,  handsome,  generous,  Frank  Agnew,  as  he  was 
commonly  called,  left  a,  void  in  the  hearts  of  many  devoted  friends, 
when  in  the  spring  of  1896,  the  hand  of  death  touched  him  and  he 
slept.  To  him,  a.  book  of  this  character  peculiarly  appealed ;  in  its 
preliminaries,  no  one  was  a  more  interested  participant  than  him- 
self, and  it  is  but  fitting  the  work  when  completed  should  record 
something  of  one  who  was  intimately  and  closely  connected  with 
every  movement  and  with  every  great  work  in  which  the  American 
Irish  of  Chicago  have  participated  during  the  last  thirty-five  years. 

No  man  in  Chicago  was  better  known,  and  to  know  Frank  Agnew 
was  to  love  him.  Strong  in  his  opinions,  unwavering  in  his  prin- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.      (      |  56» 

ciples,  he  possessed  almost  as  many  sincere  friends  among  those 
who  politically  opposed  him  as  in  the  Democratic  party,  to  which, 
since  his  arrival  in  this  country,  he  had  ever  steadfastly  adhered. 
To  party,  however,  he  was  never  in  any  sense  a  slave,  corruption 
and  chicanery  he  fought  with  all  his  strength  and  power,  no  matter 
where  displayed,  and  had  he  been  more  pliable  as  a  politician,  un- 
questionably he  could  have  held  high  political  office  during  the 
greater  portion  of  his  career.  Upon  the  lives  of  Thomas  Jefferson 
and  Andrew  Jackson,  for  whom  he  had  the  profoundest  veneration, 
believing  conscientiously,  and  after  close  study,  that  no  nobler 
Americans  had  ever  lived,  he  modelel  his  own  life. 

Francis  Agnew  was  born  in  Dundee,  Scotland,  December  2, 1837, 
Both  of  his  parents  were  of  Irish  birth,  his  mother  before  her  mar- 
riage being  Miss  Dorothy  O'Connor,  a  native  of  Sligo.  She  died 
in  Dundee,  Scotland,  in  1873.  His  father,  John  Agnew,  was  born 
in  County  Armagh,  but  resided  for  many  years  in  Dundee,  Scotland, 
where  he  was  a  prosperous  merchant.  He  died  there  in  1868.  His 
parents  were  the  first  Catholic  couple  married  in  Dundee,  Scotland, 
since  the  time  of  the  Information.  His  early  education  was  re- 
ceived in  his  native  land,  but  even  when  a  mere  boy  the  spirit  of 
enterprise  and  adventure  was  strong  within  him,  and  he  came  to  the 
United  States  with  his  uncle,  Charles  O'Connor,  in  1850.  Young 
Agnew  remained  but  a  short  time  in  New  York,  settling  in  Chicago 
in  the  early  fifties.  Here  he  took  some  schooling  at  St.  Mary's  of 
the  Lake,  and  served  an  apprenticeship  to  the  masonry  and  brick- 
laying trades,  acquiring  a  thorough  and  practical  knowledge, 
which  did  much  towards  placing  him  in  the  position  he  later  at- 
tained. He  managed  to  educate  himself  during  the  time  by  a  hard 
course  of  night  school.  His  time  finished,  he  was  able  to  command 
good  wages,  and  then  the  purchase  of  a  home  was  his  first  ambition. 
He  was  a  thorough  believer  in  the  stereotyped  phrase  that  "Knowl- 
edge is  power,"  and  his  thirst  for  information  was  very  difficult  to 

30 


570  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

satisfy.  Literary  and  debating  societies  always  held  for  him  rare 
interest  as  well  as  all  those  subjects  that  serve  to  improve  the  mind 
and  to  add  to  the  usefulness,  while  at  the  same  time,  improving  the 
condition  of  the  young. 

Mr.  Agnew  was  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  the  Chicago  Vol- 
unteer Fire  Department,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  organizers,  and 
found  his  closest  associate  in  Ms  fellow  townsman,  Denis  J.  Swenie, 
who  now  has  for  so  many  years  been  the  honored  chief  fire  marshal. 
After  the  fire  department  became  a  regular  force — in  which  again 
he  took  considerable  part — Francis  Agnew  still,  for  some  time, 
continued  his  connection  and  was  president  of  the  Firemen's  Be- 
nevolent Association  for  several  years  after  its  organization.  Not 
until  1865  did  he  start  in  the  business  of  building  and  contracting. 

His  business  prospered  greatly  from  the  first,  and  he  was  soon  in 
receipt  of  a  very  good  income.  Preceding  the  big  fire  he  construct- 
ed a  considerable  number  of  the  largest  buildings  in  the  city,  and 
subsequent  to  that  disastrous  event,  he  took  the  contract  for  a 
large  number.  Mr.  Agnew's  bent  of  mind  was  essentially  of  a 
business  order.  He  possessed  positively  a  mathematical  genius  for 
securing  important  contracts,  and  no  man  in  the  United  States 
in  his  profession  has  a  grander  record  for  the  rearing  of  great 
public  structures.  The  magnitude  of  the  work  never  possessed  any 
fears  for  dauntless  Frank,  difficulty  was  but  another  name  for  op- 
portunity, and  enabled  him  to  display  the  best  and  boldest  points 
of  his  truly  remarkable  character.  In  the  summer  of  1892,  when 
a  great  storm  swept  down  the  greater  portion  of  the  famous  Manu- 
factures' and  Liberal  Arts'  Building  at  the  World's  Fair — the 
largest  ever  put  under  one  roof — he  set  to  work  again  bravely 
and  cheerily,  completing  the  immense  undertaking  in  full  time 
for  the  formal  opening  of  that  immortal  exposition  by  the  President 
of  the  United  States.  His  closest  friends,  well  aware  of  his  extra- 
ordinary moral  courage,  were  amazed  at  the  wonderful  ardor  which 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  671 

positively  refused  to  acknowledge  defeat.  Ilis  work  and  the  name 
of  Francis  Agnevv  will  live  in  future  years  in  honorable  association 
with  the  greatest  of  the  buildings  that  rendered  so  incomparably 
majestic  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition  of  1893. 

The  firm  of  Agnew  &  Company,  of  which  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  the  guiding  mind,  consisted  of  ex- Alderman  John  Mc- 
Gilleu,  John  Agnew  (his  eldest  son)  and  himself.  Mr.  Agnew's 
fame  as  a  builder  was  not  only  confined  to  this  city,  his  name  was 
known  all  over  the  United  States.  Under  his  management  and  su- 
perintendence were  constructed  nearly  all  the  finest  buildings  in 
St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis.  Of  these  particular  mention  may  be 
given  to  the  Ryan  Hotel  at  St  Paul,  the  famous  West  Hotel  at 
Minneapolis,  the  postoffices  of  both  these  cities,  the  Globe  Building 
at  St  Paul,  and  many  others.  At  Duluth,  also,  a  number  of  the 
great  elevators  and  other  buildings  passed  through  his  hands.  In 
Chicago  he  was  known  as  the  leading  contractor  of  the  City  Hall, 
the  builder  of  Hooley's  Theater,  St.  Xavier's  Academy,  and  many 
other  well-known  structures.  He  also  built  the  greater  portion  of 
the  Town  of  Pullman,  and  had  a  big  contract  on  the  drainage, canal. 

Of  Mr.  Agnew  as  an  Irishman  and  patriot,  special  mention  is  nec- 
essary. Though  born  in  Scotland,  it  is  not  possible  for  any  man 
to  have  sincerer  attachment  to  the  cause  of  liberty  for  Ireland,  or 
greater  devotion  to  the  dear  old  land  across  the  seas.  The  cause 
might  be  weakened  by  the  faults,  the  errors,  and  the  crimes  of 
some  of  its  votaries,  Frank  Agnew  remained  steadfast  in  his 
faith.  When  the  Phoenix  Park  tragedy  threw  Ireland's  hopes  into 
gloom,  when  the  Parnell  collapse  drowned  the  hopes  of  years,  his 
was  the  same  brave  and  unwavering  faith  as  in  the  hour  when 
Gladstone  was  forced  to  throw  open  the  prison  doors,  and  the  first, 
and  by  far  the  best,  home  rule  bill  for  Ireland  was  brought  before 
the  English  House  of  Commons.  Not  by  words  alone  was  his  de- 
votion to  Ireland's  cause  displayed,  of  his  means  he  gave  most  lib- 


572  BIOGRAPHICAL,    HISTORY    OF    THE 

erally  to  help  the  work  his  faithful  heart  so  sincerely  believed  in. 
Long  and  bitterly  will  his  stalwart  form,  noble  countenance  and 
winning  smile  be  missed  in  the  gatherings  of  bis  kindred  in 
Chicago. 

For  reasons  before  stated,  Francis  Agnew  did  not  possess  so  high 
a  political  record  as  he  might  have  done  had  he  so  desired.  In  the 
fall  of  1874,  in  opposition  to  Timothy  M.  Bradley,  the  Republican 
standard  bearer,  he  was  a  candidate  for  sheriff  on  the  People's  party 
ticket.  Mr.  Bradley's  following  was  a  strong  one,  but  Mr.  Agnew 
easily  defeated  him,  and  with  the,  at  that  time,  extraordinary  ma- 
jority of  13,000  votes.  During  his  term  of  office,  the  duties  of 
sheriff  were  performed  in  a  manner  absolutely  defying  adverse  criti- 
cism, and  on  his  return  to  his  private  business,  he  found  that  ex- 
panded to  an  enormous  extent.  In  1880,  Mr.  Agnew  was  elected  as 
chairman  of  the  Cook  County  Democratic  Central  Committee,  and 
served  in  that  capacity  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1894,  in  answer 
to  the  requests  of  a  number  of  his  friends,  he  was  induced  to  be- 
come a  candidate  for  county  commissioner,  and  though  he  suffered 
defeat,  in  the  landslide  that  in  that  year  buried  the  Democratic 
party,  he  led  his  ticket  by  several  thousand  votes. 

He  was  married  in  1860  to  Ellen  O'Neill,  a  lady  born  in  Chicago, 
of  Irish  parentage,  in  1839,  a  daughter  of  Michael  and  Maria  (Daor- 
kin)  O'Neill,  of  this  city.  She  survives  her  husband.  Of  this  union 
eight  children  were  born,  and  of  these  all  except  one  are  living: 
Charles,  who  died  in  1888  at  the  age  of  ten.  John  P.  Agnew  is  now 
head  of  the  firm  of  Agnew  &  Company,  which  his  father  founded. 
Francis,  Jr.,  Michael,  Thomas,  and  Edward,  Mrs.  Charles  P.  Mona- 
han  of  Chicago,  and  Mrs.  E.  J.  Darrah,  whose  husband  is  corpora- 
tion counsel  of  St.  Paul,  Minn.  Three  brothers  of  Frank  Agnew 
also  reside  in  Chicago:  John,  who  is  connected  with  the  city  fire 
and  building  inspection  departments  j  Luke,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
coal  business,  and  the  Rev.  P.  J.  Agnew,  one  of  the  most  eloquent 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  673 

priests  iii  the  archdiocese.  Miss  Margaret  Agnew,  a  sister,  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Chicago,  while  another  brother  remains  in  Scotland. 

Mr.  Agnew  was  twice  elected  president  of  the  famous  Irish- 
Ainericau  Club  of  Chicago,  which  so  hospitably  entertained  Charles 
Stewart  Paruell,  and  other  Irish  leaders,  when  the  United  States 
was  visited  during  the  stirring  periods  of  the  Land  League,  and 
the  Irish  National  League  agitations.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Builders'  and  Traders'  Union,  was  also  one  of  the  first  members  of 
the  Union  Catholic  Library  Association,  and  an  active  member  of 
a  large  number  of  social  and  benevolent  societies,  his  sympathies 
going  out  to  his  fellowmen  without  reference  to  creed,  race,  or 
political  opinion. 

In  the  fall  of  1893,  Mr.  Agnew  received  a  severe,  and  for  some 
time  thought  to  be  a  fatal  injury  by  being  struck  by  a  cable  car. 
His  rugged  constitution,  however,  withstood  the  shock  and  he  re- 
covered, although  he  was  never  the  same  man  as  before,  and  suf- 
fered frequently  from  bad  headaches.  Still  he  worked  on,  and  for 
some  months,  and  up  to  three  weeks  of  his  death,  he  had  been  en- 
gaged in  the  construction  of  a  large  public  institution  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  state.  Certain  violent  symptoms  then  alarmed  him, 
and  medical  counsel  was  sought.  Advised  to  try  the  springs  at 
West  Baden,  Ind.,  he  spent  some  days  there,  but  his  condition 
found  no  improvement.  He  returned  home  and  had  recourse  to 
leading  physicians.  They  diagnosed  his  complaint  as  Bright's  dis- 
ease of  the  kidneys,  intensified  by  heart  complication.  lie  strug- 
gled along  and  was  at  his  Office  the  Monday  preceding  the  Friday 
on  which  he  died,  May  8,  1896,  surrounded  by  all  the  surviving 
members  of  his  family  resident  in  America. 

In  a  deeply  sympathetic  obituary  article  John  F.  Finerty  of  the 
Chicago  Citizen  thus  spoke  of  him: 

"In  Mr.  Agnew  the  editor  of  this  paper  has  lost  a  beloved  friend 
of  thirty  years'  sunshine  and  storm;  and  he  has  never  laid  upon 


574  BIOGRAPHICAL,   HISTORY    OF   THE 

the  grave  of  any  man  a  tribute  more  sincerely  bestowed.  It  is  im- 
possible, almost  in  the  moment  of  berea.vement,  to  do  entire  justice 
to  the  memory  of  one  who  but  yesterday  was  a  part  of  daily  life, 
and  to-day  is  gone  forever  from  worldly  ken.  In  fact  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  realize  that  the  cheerful,  vital,  forceful  existence  of 

Frank  Agnew  has  been  so  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  terminated  by 

t 
the  grim  arrest  of  the  hand  of  death." 

The  article  terminated  with  the  well-known  words  of  Tom  Moore, 
Ireland's  great  poet : 

"It  is  not  the  tear  at  this  moment  shed 

When  the  cold  turf  has  been  just  laid  o'er  him, 
That  tells  how  beloved  was  the  friend  that's  fled. 

And  how  deep  in  our  hearts  we  deplore  him. 
'Tis  the  tear  through  many  a  long  day  wept, 

'Tis  life's  whole  path  o'ershaded, 
'Tis  the  one  remembrance  fondly  kept 

When  all  lighter  griefs  have  faded." 

The  funeral  services,  which  were  given  at  the  Cathedral  of  the 
Holy  Name,  May  11,  1896,  drew  together  so  many  friends  of  the 
deceased,  anxious  to  pay  honor  to  his  memory,  that  the  capacity  of 
that  large  structure  was  forced  to  the  utmost.  Seldom  indeed  has 
such  a  gathering  of  Chicago's  most  prominent  citizens  met  to  give 
a  last  tribute  to  one  of  their  number.  A  great  concourse  of  mourn- 
ers followed  in  carriages  to  Calvary  Cemetery,  where  all  that  is 
mortal  of  noble  Frank  Agnew  waits  the  last  great  summons. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  575 


REV.  MICHAEL  J.  FITZSIMMONS, 

The  Romau  Catholic  Church  in  Chicago  is  represented  by  many 
able  clergymen  of  such  power  and  lives  as  would  bring  honor  to  any 
community  in  which  they  might  live,  men  of  such  lovable  natures 
as  win  the  affections  as  well  as  the  respect  of  those  under  their 
charge,  and  are  consequently  the  better  enabled  to  move  their  peo- 
ple along  those  paths  whose  watchword  is  religion  and  whose  lights 
are  faith  and  morals.  Of  the  Catholic  priests  of  the  diocese  of  Chi- 
cago there  is  none  of  higher  personal  consideration  among  the 
members  of  his  own  faith,  as  well  as  those  of  a  different  religious 
opinion,  than  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  the  Rev.  Michael  J. 
Fitzsiminons. 

He  was  born  in  Chicago  of  Irish  parents,  over  forty  years  ago, 
and  feels  justly  proud  of  his  origin  in  this  ideal  American  city. 
Ilis  father,  Michael  Fitzsimmons,  came  to  this  country  as  a  boy 
and  succeeded  well  in  life,  both  as  a  citizen  of  Chicago  and  later  as  a 
resident  of  Morris,  Ills.,  until  his  death  in  1855. 

Rev.  Michael  J.  Fitzsimmous  received  his  primary  education  in 
the  parochial  schools  of  Morris,  going  thence  for  a  classical  course 
to  St.  Joseph's  College  at  Tentopolis,  Ills.,  where  he  graduated  in 
1878,  and  continuing  his  studies  for  the  church,  after  spending  a 
year  in  St.  Viateur's  Seminary,  near  Kankakee,  Ills.,  went  to  St. 
Mary's  Seminary,  Baltimore,  and  three  years  later  was  ordained 
from  there  in  August,  1882,  in  the  very  Cathedral  of  which  he  is 
now  rector. 

His  first  appointment  was  to  St.  Mary's  Church,  Wabash  Avenue 
and  Eldridge  Court,  and  thence,  during  the  same  year,  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Cathedral.  From  assistant  pastor  he  was  promoted  to 


576  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OP    THE 

the  position  of  Chancellor  of  the  Archdiocese,  and  on  the  death  of 
Very  Rev.  P.  J.  Conway,  V.  G.,  was  made  rector  of  the  Cathedral  of 
the  Holy  Name. 

The  present  beauty  of  this  magnificent  building  is  a  fitting  mon- 
ument to  his  artistic  taste  and  successful  energy,  for  upon  him  fell 
the  onerous  duty  of  accomplishing  the  thorough  and  expensive 
renovation  that  has  given  to  Chicago  the  most  beautiful,  if  not  the 
most  costly,  church  edifice  in  the  United  States. 


R.  P.  O'GRADY. 


II.  P.  O'Grady  was  born  June  24th,  1864,  at  Glin,  in  the  County 
of  Limerick,  Ireland,  fifteen  miles  west  of  the  city  of  Limerick. 
This  beautiful  littletown,  which  overlooks  the  river  Shannon,  is  sur- 
rounded by  the  lovely  estate  of  the  Knight  of  Glin.  He  came  to  this 
city  in  June,  1880,  and  having  spent  one  year  at  Bryant  &  Stratton's 
Business  College,  found  employment  from  1882  to  1889  as  clerk  at 
Illinois  Central  freight  office,  and  during  the  great  eight-hour  move- 
ment in  1886  was  chosen  organizer  of  railroad  employes  of  this  city. 
AVheii  the  railroad  companies  refused  to  accede  to  the  demand  of 
the  employes,  Mr.  O'Grady  was  called  upon  at  an  open  meeting 
on  the  lake  front  to  answer  the  well-known  railroad  manager  and 
statesman,  E.  T.  Jeffery.  He  was  successful  in  organizing  a  union 
seventeen  hundred  strong  inside  of  one  day,  and  afterward  was 
turned  into  an  assembly  of  the  Knights  of  Labor.  Four  days  later, 
when  the  bomb  was  thrown  at  Haymarket  Square,  resulting  in  kill- 
ing and  wounding  several  police  officers,  the  freight  employes  were 
holding  a  meeting  on  the  North  Side,  at  which  Mr.  O'Grady  was  pre- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  579 

siding.  On  learning  what  had  happened,  the  chairman  had  a  com- 
mittee appointed  to  notify  all  companies  through  the  press  that  old 
employes  should  immediately  return  to  their  respective  positions 
and  protect  the  lives  and  property  of  the  various  companies.  Mr. 
O'Grady  was  nominated  in  1887  by  the  Union  Labor  party,  then 
very  strong,  for  West  Town  Assessor,  but  he  resigned  in  favor  of 
the  regular  Democratic  nominee,  who  secured  the  election. 

Having  been  for  some  time  engaged  in  business  pursuits,  in  the 
spring  of  1890  he  left  for  Denver,  Col.,  where  he  published  a  weekly 
paper  known  as  the  "Rocky  Mountain  Cricket."  In  the  fall  of  1891 
he  went  to  California,  and  later  in  the  same  year  to  Texas,  where 
he  became  connected  with  some  journals  published  at  Dallas  and 
Galveston.  In  the  spring  of  1893  a  trip  was  made  by  him  through 
the  South  from  Dallas  to  New  Orleans  and  Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  re- 
turning by  way  of  Cincinnati,  so  as  to  take  in  all  the  old  battle 
grounds.  He  returned  to  Chicago  June  llth,  1892,  and  immediately 
became  connected  with  the  "Chicago  Dispatch"  from  its  first  edition 
to  December,  1895,  when  he  joined  the  "Chicago  Mail,"  and  later 
published  a  bright  though  short-lived  Irish  weekly  called  "The 
Shamrock."  During  the  memorable  campaign  of  1896,  Mr.  O'Grady 
started,  to  aid  the  silver  cause,  a  new  weekly  which  he  called  "The 
People."  In  this  powerful  weekly  Mr.  O'Grady  positively  declines  to 
support  any  candidate  for  political  office  who  was  not  a  free  silver- 
ite  in  1890,  and  in  the  spring  election  of  1897  he  was  able  to  do  much 
towards  bringing  about  the  election  of  Carter  II.  Harrison,  Mayor 
of  Chicago. 

In  Mr.  O'Grady,  editor  and  publisher,  the  generous  natured  and 
kindly  young  Irishman,  his  people,  whether  across  the  seas  or  the 
free  land  circumstances  have  forced  them  to  seek,  have  always  a 
good  friend  aud  a  fearless  advocate. 

He  was  married  on  April  8, 1896,  to  Miss  Annie  R.  Fitzgerald  of 
Chicago. 


580  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 


HON.  WILLIAM  GILLESPIE  EWING. 


Hon.  William  Gillespie  Ewing,  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of 
Cook  County,  was  born  May  llth,  1839,  on  a  farm  in  McLean  County, 
111.  He  was  the  son  of  John  W.  and  Maria  McClelland  Stephenson, 
his  ancestors,  both  on  his  father's  and  mother's  side,  coming  to 
America  from  the  north  of  Ireland  about  the  year  1740.  A  settle- 
ment was  made  first  in  Pennsylvania  and  later  in  North  Carolina. 
John  W.  Ewing,  the  father  of  our  subject,  died  in  1855,  and  the 
mother  in  1884. 

William  Gillespie  Ewing  received  his  early  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  his  native  county,  attending  later  the  Wesleyan 
University  at  Bloomiugtou  until  he  was  twenty,  when  he  began  in 
that  town  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Robert  E.  Williams. 
Here  he  remained  three  years,  during  which  time,  in  1861,  he  re- 
ceived a  license  to  practice  law. 

His  first  start  in  the  practice  of  the  law  was  at  Metamora,  Wood- 
ford  County,  111.,  where  he  remained  only  eighteen  months,  and  then 
removed  to  Quincy,  111.,  where  he  practiced  for  nineteen  years,  hold- 
ing at  different  times  the  offices  of  City  Attorney  for  two  terms, 
Superintendent  of  Schools,  and  also  for  a  couple  of  terms — eight 
years — State's  Attorney  for  that  Judicial  Circuit. 

In  1882  lie  moved  to  Chicago;  in  1886  he  was  appointed  United 
States  District  Attorney  for  the  Northern  District  of  Illinois  by 
President  Cleveland,  and  served  four  years.  In  1890  he  was  a  can- 
didate for  Congress  from  the  First  District  of  Illinois,  but  was  un- 
successful, and  in  1892  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court  to 
serve  six  years. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  681 

Judge  Ewing  is  a  member  of  the  Douglas  and  Iroquois  Clubs; 
in  political  views  a  sound-money  Democrat,  and  a  Presbyterian  in 
his  religious  belief. 

In  1865  he  married  Miss  Ruth  Babcock  of  Metainora,  a  descend- 
ant of  Goodrich  (Peter  Parley).  They  have  two  daughters,  Mary 
and  Euth.  Judge  Ewing  is  a  gentleman  of  refined  taste,  courteous 
and  kindly  manner,  and  a  type  of  the  great  Irish-American*  stock 
from  which  he  sprung. 


ROBERT  JOHN  GUNINNG. 

Mr.  Gunning  was  born  of  Irish  parents,  January  2nd,  185(5,  in 
Buffalo,  and  is  a  direct  descendant  of  the  Gunnings,  noted  in  Irish 
history  from  the  time  of  James  II.,  of  that  family,  to  which  the 
famous  Gunning  sisters  belonged,  and  to  which  Sir  Richard  Gun- 
ning, of  late  years,  owes  his  descent.  The  subject  of  this  sketch, 
however,  may  be  considered  a  thorough  Chicagoan,  for  when  his 
parents  brought  him  to  this  city  he  was  but  six  months  old. 

Ilis  father,  William  Gunning,  a  contractor  of  Galway,  Ireland, 
came  to  Canada  in  1840,  and  after  a  residence  of  five  years,  moved 
to  Buffalo,  dying  there  in  1873. 

Robert  J.  Gunning  received  his  early  education  at  the  old  Jones 
and  other  public  schools  of  Chicago.  His  schooling  over,  which, 
as  he  was  compelled  to  make  his  own  living,  took  place  at  a  very 
early  age,  he  chose  to  take  up  the  occupation  of  a  painter,  and  ap- 
prenticed himself  to  the  sign  painting  business.  He  had  not  long 
been  so  engaged  when  he  noticed  the  extensive  placarding  of  ad- 
vertising matter  about  the  city  of  Chicago  which  a  large  eastern 
patent  medicine  firm  was  doing,  and  this  gave  birth  in  his  mind  to 


582  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

the  idea  which  has  since  taken  such  large  and  important  propor- 
tions and  of  which  it  may  be  justly  said  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  the  pioneering  spirit.  He  immediately  entered  into  negotia- 
tion with  the  concern  alluded  to,  proposing  to  paint  its  signs,  to 
display  its  name  and  the  quality  of  the  goods  on  the  walls  and 
fences  in  and  around  Chicago,  and  in  fact  make  the  people  know 
what  the  firm  had  to  dispose  of.  The  field  of  operation  had  been 
carefully  surveyed  and  he  had  so  thoroughly  mastered  every  detail 
of  how  the  work  should  be  carried  on,  that  the  heads  of  the  firm 
became  quickly  interested  and  readily  agreed  to  try  the  result  of  a 
trial  order. 

Mr.  Gunning's  claims  were  found  well  justified,  and  big  returns 
followed  in  contracts  from  various  parts  of  the  country.  He  was 
then  in  a  position  to  interest  other  large  advertisers,  and  these  also 
adopted  the  system,  until  his  business  grew  to  such  proportions 
that  a  joint  stock  company  with  considerable  capital  was  organized, 
of  which  Mr.  Gunning  was  made  president.  The  company  has  now 
offices  in  all  the  principal  cities  of  the  country,  and  a  business  is 
done  of  over  $500,000  a  year.  It  will  contract  to  paint  signs  any- 
where on  earth,  and  in  its  regular  employ  are  from  one  hundred  and 
fifty  to  two  hundred  painters,  who  are  engaged  on  the  road  erecting 
and  painting  signs.  Frequently  some  large  advertisers  will  con- 
tract for  signs  at  different  points  all  over  the  United  States  and 
to  an  amount  of  $100,000  or  more.  The  success  achieved  in  Chicago 
induced  the  formation  of  the  St  Louis  Bill  Posting  Company  of 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  of  which  Mr.  Gunning  is  also  president. 

Personally  he  is  one  of  the  most  courteous  and  sociable  of  men, 
and  his  friends  express  considerable  surprise  that  he  is  still  per- 
mitted to  remain  a  bachelor.  Essentially  a  society  and  club  man, 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Chicago  Athletic,  Hamilton,  and  other  clubs 
in  this  and  other  cities,  and  is  also  prominently  connected  with 
various  orders  and  societies,  among  which  are  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  583 

ias,  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  the  Royal  Ar- 
ranuin. 

In  politics  Mr.  Gunning  is  a  Republican,  and  in  religion  a 
Protestant,  and  a  member  and  thorough  believer  in  the  principles 
of  the  Ethical  Society. 

This  history  of  one  of  Chicago's  best  known  self-made  men  is 
necessarily  brief,  but  still  is  sufficient  to  show  the  possibilities  be- 
fore men  of  strong  character  and  invincible  determination.  Start- 
ing in  life  unassisted  by  any  of  the  usual  advantages,  but  gifted  in 
an  extraordinary  degree  with  energetic  endeavor,  much  self-re- 
liance and  great  business  faculties,  these  have  enabled,  him  to 
establish  a  business  second  to  none  in  the  United  States,  and  to 
make  his  name  not  merely  known  among  the  business  men  of  Chi- 
cago, but  synonymous  with  honest  dealing  and  absolutely  faithful 
performance.  His  friends  are  many  and  his  acquaintances  as 
numerous  as  has  any  man  in  Chicago.  He  possesses  the  respect 
and  affectionate  esteem  of  his  business  associates,  who  readily 
recognize  in  his  success  no  mere  accident  of  fortune,  but  the  just 
reward  of  true  merit,  and  who  unite  in  declaring  Robert  John  Gun- 
ning what  he  assuredly  is,  a  splendid  type  of  the  American  Irish 
race. 


EDWARD  THOMAS  GLENNON. 


Edward  Thomas  Glennon  was  born  August  21st,  1855,  in  Wood- 
stock, McIIenry  County,  Ills.,  but  comes  of  good  Irish  stock,  his 
parents,  Thomas  and  Catherine  (Lackey)  Glennon,  having  both 
been  natives  of  County  Cavan.  The  father  was  a  member  of  Com- 


584  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP   THE 

pany  "F,"  Ninety-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  with  that  regiment 
saw  long  and  hard  service  during  the  war  of  the  Union,  and  re- 
ceived an  honorable  discharge  at  its  end,  since  which,  with  his 
wife,  he  has  enjoyed  an  honorable  retirement  at  Woodstock. 

In  his  native  town,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  public 
schools  until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he  was  compelled  by 
circumstances — his  father  having  a  large  family  to  care  for — to  go 
out  into  the  world  and  endeavor  to  make  a  name  for  himelf. 

His  first  employment  was  as  a  general  helper  or  errand  boy  in 
the  printing  office  of  a  newspaper — the  Sentinel — published  in 
Woodstock,  and  from  that  position  he  by  degrees  progressed,  learn- 
ing the  business  in  all  its  branches  and  receiving  promotion  until 
he  was  proprietor  of  the  paper.  NoWthough  removed  from  active 
participation  in  its  work,  he  still  retains  a  quarter  interest. 

Being  convinced  that  in  order  to  make  money  it  is  necessary  to 
go  where  there  is  business  and  consequent  money,  in  1881  he  came 
to  Chicago.  A  position  was  secured  as  inspector  at  the  Custom 
House  and  at  the  same  time  he  took  up  the  study  of  law.  The  fol- 
lowing year,  he  entered  the  Union  College  of  Law,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1884,  and  at  once  entered  the  law  office  of  Cook  & 
Upton.  Here  he  began  to  practice  and  continued  until  May,  1887, 
when  he  was  appointed  an  assistant  in  the  office  of  the  Corporation 
Counsel,  and  remained  there  until  the  fall  of  1888,  when  he  resigned 
to  take  the  position  of  Assistant  State's  Attorney  under  Mr.  Longe- 
necker.  This  office  in  turn  he  resigned  to  receive  the  appointment 
of  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Police  Magistrate.  He  was  given  juris- 
diction over  the  Police  Court  at  the  Armory,  and  later  at  the  Thirty- 
fifth  Street  Station,  and  in  1895  was  re- appointed  to  both  the  offices. 
He  resigned  November,  1896,  and  on  December  1st  in  that  year  was 
appointed  by  Judge  Horton  a  Master  in  Chancery,  on  the  same  date 
forming  a  partnership  with  William  McFadon,  a  well-known  Chi- 
cago lawyer.  The  firm  are  acting  as  the  attorneys  for  the  Lake 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  585 

Shore  &  Michigan  Southern  Railroad,  as  well  as  a  number  of  other 
corporations. 

Judge  Glennon  has  had  some  military  experience,  for  he  was  for 
ten  years  on  the  staff  of  General  Fitzsimons  when  the  latter  com- 
manded the  First  Brigade  Illinois  State  troops.  When  he  resigned 
he  was  captain  and  quartermaster. 

A  strong  Republican,  in  political  matters  he  has  always  taken  a 
lively  interest.  He  is  an  influential  member  of  his  Ward  Club  and 
has  been  a  member  of  county,  town  and  senatorial  committees. 
His  religious  views  are  those  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and 
he  is  a  member  of  the  congregation  of  St.  Elizabeth's  Church. 


JOHN   DILLON. 


Mr.  Dillon  was  born  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  May  3rd,  1846,  his  parents, 
Patrick  and  Ann  Dillon,  having  arrived  in  this  country  from  Ire- 
land over  fifty  years  ago.  Both  attained  the  age  of  seventy-one  years 
when  they  died  in  Oshkosh,  Wis.  The  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  belonged  to  a  family  of  large  wealth  and  influence  in  his 
native  land,  and  to  have  the  name  of  Patrick  Dillon  on  a  bond  was 
considered  amply  sufficient  for  any  purpose.  The  Dillon  family  is 
one  of  the  oldest  and  most  thoroughly  representative  in  Ireland. 
In  the  eleventh  century  historical  records  show  that  Dilune  or  Dil- 
ion,  having  killed  in  single  combat  one  of  his  kinsmen,  passed  over 
into  France  and  by  marriage  with  the  daughter  of  the  Duke  of 
Aquitaine  obtained  the  title  of  Prince  of  Aquitaine  for  himself  and 
his  posterity.  In  1172,  however,  the  family  was  dispossessed  by 


586  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE 

King  Henry  II.  of  England,  and  the  then  Duke,  Thomas  Dillon  by 
name,  having  been  killed  in  battle,  his  two  sons,  Henry  and  Thomas, 
were  brought  while  mere  infants  to  England.  For  attending  King 
John  to  Ireland  in  1185,  the  eldest  son  obtained  a  large  grant  of 
land  which  was  called  Dillon's  County,  and  which  was  afterwards, 
in  the  time  of  Henry  VIII.,  changed  into  the  barony  of  Kilkenny 
West.  The  family  later  possessed  the  titles  of  Earls  of  Roscom- 
mon  and  Viscounts  Dillon  of  the  county  with  which  it  has  been 
chiefly  associated. 

John  Dillon  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  high  school 
of  Utica,  afterwards  receiving  a  priArate  course  of  training  in  New 
York  City,  the  curriculum  being  of  a  general  commercial  character. 
His  education  completed,  he  started  out  for  himself  as  a  stock  and 
bond  broker,  and  speedily  obtained  a  large  and  influential  clientage, 
among  whom  were  numbered  Russell  Sage,  Sidney  Dillon  and  many 
other  leading  capitalists  and  bankers.  After  some  five  or  six  years 
of  successful  business  experience  in  New  York  City,  Mr.  Dillon 
went  to  Michigan  and  engaged  in  extensive  speculation  in  iron  and 
mining  and  also  became  a  large  dealer  in  general  merchandise. 
Here  he  met  with  the  most  serious  disaster  of  his  business  career, 
for  in  the  panic  of  1873  he  sustained  a  loss  of  over  fifty  thousand 
dollars,  having  at  the  time  in  his  employ  some  three  hundred  men, 
and  merchandise  of  over  three  hundred  thousand  dollars.  About 
1880  Mr.  Dillon  came  to  Chicago,  where  he  engaged  for  several  years 
in  general  merchandise  transactions,  afterwards  returning  to  his 
original  business  of  stock  and  bond  brokerage. 

Mr.  Dillon  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  League,  the  Odd  Fellows, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  also  a  Mason  of  good  standing.  He  has 
lately  joined  the  new  Irish  Club  on  Monroe  Street  Quite  a  traveler, 
he  has  crossed  the  ocean  six  times  and  has  made  a  tour  round  the 
world. 

A  Roman  Catholic  in  his  religious  views,  Mr.  Dillon  is  a  Demo- 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  687 

crat  iii  his  politics.  In  the  latter  he  has  never  taken  any  active 
part,  his  ambition  not  running  to  public  office  and  being  well  satis- 
fied outside  of  his  business  transactions  to  find  rest  and  happiness 
in  the  midst  of  his  family  circle  and  in  the  society  of  his  friends. 

Mr.  Dillon  is  a  man  in  the  prime  of  life,  well  preserved  and  of 
fine  presence.  He  is  a  total  abstainer  and  a  non-smoker,  and  tells 
with  pride  that  he  has  never  found  it  necessary  to  call  for  a  doctor. 
His  independent  and  self  reliant  spirit  has  been  shown  from  his 
first  start  in  life;  he  has  never  worked  for  anybody  but  himself,  and 
as  has  been  before  mentioned,  the  successful  position  he  has  at- 
tained is  the  result  of  exceptional  business  talent  and  acumen,  com- 
bined with  unremitting  perseverance  and  energy. 


JAMES   M.  DOYLE. 


James  M.  Doyle  was  born  August  1st,  1839,  in  County  Wexford, 
Ireland.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  late  Peter  and  Ellen  McDon- 
nell Doyle,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  same  county,  and  with 
them  he  had  come  to  America  in  1848.  Peter  Doyle,  who  was  by 
occupation  a  carpenter,  died  in  1848,  and  his  wife  in  1870.  Both  of 
their  sons  have  attained  prominence  in  public  life  in  this  city — 
the  younger,  Austin  J.  Doyle,  whose  record  as  a  member  of  the 
police  force,  and  as  chief  of  the  Police  Department  has  won  for  him 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  the  whole  community;  and  the  elder,  the 
subject  pf  this  sketch.  The  last  named  is  most  favorably  known  as 
an  efficient,  intelligent  and  absolutely  honest  official  in  the  various 
public  positions  he  has  occupied,  and  in  his  administration  of 

31 


588  BIOGRAPHICAL,   HISTORY  OF   THE 

the  office  he  now  holds  of  Justice  of  the  Peace.  Here  his  honesty 
of  purpose,  his  geniality  and  unquestioned  and  unwavering  fairness 
have  won  for  him  the  approbation  and  admiration  of  every  one 
with  whom  he  has  been  brought  into  contact 

Prior  to  the  removal  of  the  family  to  Chicago,  the  foundation 
of  his  education  had  been  laid  in  the  national  schools  of  the  place 
of  his  birth,  and  in  coming  to  Chicago  it  was  continued  in  the  old 
Scainmon  school  and  completed  in  the  University  of  St.  Mary's  of 
the  Lake.  In  1853  a  position  was  secured  by  him  as  clerk  in  a  gro- 
cery store  and  later  he  was  an  apprentice  in  the  brass  moulding 
business  of  Nugent  &  Owens.  A  strike  of  the  operators  in  this  bus- 
iness threw  him  out  of  employment,  and  after  serving  a  short  time 
as  clerk  in  the  grocery  business,  he  embarked  in  the  same  line  on  his 
own  account.  He  enlisted  in  the  Twenty-third  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, widely  known  as  Mulligan's  Brigade,  in  September,  1862, 
and  at  once  closed  up  his  business,  continuing  to  serve  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  was  from  time  to  time  promoted  and  received 
his  commission  as  captain  on  March  25th,  1865.  The  history  of  this 
regiment  is  too  well  known  to  need  repetition  here,  and  Judge 
Doyle's  honorable  and  useful  service  as  one  of  its  members  is  exem- 
plified in  the  rapid  promotion  he  attained. 

Returning  to  Chicago  he  engaged  in  the  produce  business,  which 
was  continued  until  1869,  when  he  accepted  a  position  in  the  office 
of  M.  W.  Kerwin,  then  South  Town  Collector.  The  following  year 
he  became  a  clerk  under  City  Collector  W.  J.  Onahan,  and  served 
four  years,  a  portion  of  which  time  he  held  a  position  as  assistant 
cashier  in  the  collector's  office.  In  the  fall  of  1873  he  became  Chief 
Deputy  Clerk  of  the  Criminal  Court,  and  served  in  that  capacity 
until  he  was  appointed  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1887.  He  has  been 
twice  re-appointed;  was  Police  Magistrate  under  the  administra- 
tion of  Mayors  Cregier,  Harrison  and  Hopkins,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  until  July  2nd,  1895. 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  589 

His  political  affiliations  are  those  of  the  Democratic  party,  and 
he  gave  much  time  in  the  advancement  of  its  interests.  In  friendly 
societies  he  has  always  been  most  active.  He  was  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers in  1889  of  the  C.  B.  L.  Building  &  Loan  Association,  upon 
whose  directorate  he  served  for  some  years;  and  in  1891  was  ap- 
pointed treasurer  of  the  association.  He  is  a  member  of  the  G.  A. 
R.,  is  past  commander  of  Colonel  Mulligan  Post,  and  also  a  member 
of  the  Western  Society  of  the  Army,  of  the  Potomac.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  Benevolent  Legion,  and  assisted  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  first  council  in  Chicago  (Marquette)  in  1884.  The  Judge 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Society  of  St.  Vincent  De  Paul  since  its 
first  organization  in  Chicago. 


REV.   THOMAS    F.  GALLIGAN. 


This  well-known  Catholic  priest,  who  is  in  charge  of  the  parish 
of  St  Patrick,  was  born  July  17th,  1851,  in  the  City  of  New  York, 
where  his  parents,  P.  J.  and  Catherine  (McCready)  Galligan,  had 
settled  on  leaving  Ireland.  Soon  after  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born,  his  parents  brought  him  to  Chicago,  and  it  was  in  the 
public  schools  of  this  city  that  his  earlier  education  was  received. 
For  the  classical  branches,  he  was  afterwards  at  St.  Joseph's  Col- 
lege, Beardstown,  Ky.,  where  he  remained  six  years  and  was  grad- 
uated in  1873.  Having  immediately  taken  up  the  study  of  theology, 
August  30th,  1876,  he  was  at  once  appointed  assistant  pastor  of 
St.  Patrick's  Church.  He  remained  in  that  parish  until  1881,  when 
he  was  transferred  to  the  Cathedral  of  the  Holy  Name.  Later,  in 


590  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE 

order  to  build  up  the  new  parish  of  St.  Rose  of  Lima,  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  southwest  portion  of  this  city,  and  here  his  labors 
met  with  the  greatest  success.  Then  for  a  few  months  he  was 
given  charge  of  St  Pius  Church,  from  which  he  was  once  more 
transferred,  on  the  death  of  the  Very  Rev.  Dean  Terry,  in  1884,  to 
succeed  him  in  the  pastorate  of  St.  Patrick's.  No  sooner  was  he 
appointed,  than  he  decided  that  his  church — the  oldest  in  Chicago — 
should  be  repaired.  A  new  roof  was  put  on,  the  interior  was  en- 
tirely cleaned  and  re-frescoed,  and  the  steeples  added,  which  the 
original  plans  contemplated — all  being  due  to  his  exertions. 

In  the  prime  of  his  life,  a  man  of  active  habits  and  never  failing 
industry,  Father  Galligan  essays  nothing  for  his  parish  in  which  he 
does  not  succeed.  Neither  is  there  any  priest  in  this  city  who  has 
more  thoroughly  succeeded  in  endearing  himself  to  his  parishion- 
ers. He  is  characteristically  Celtic,  and  where  he  sees  wrong, 
absolutely  fearless  in  his  demonstrations.  Chicago  may  well  be 
proud  of  its  citizen  priest,  and  those  of  Irish  blood  can  have  none 
the  less  pride  in  this  unselfish  and  noble  representative. 


PATRICK  c.  MAGUIRE. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  another  of  the  city's  best  known 
and  most  popular  American  Irishmen.  He  is  known  to  every  one  and 
is  liked  by  every  one;  a  genial,  kindly,  generous  natured  and  thor- 
ough representative  of  his  race. 

Patrick  G.  MaGuire  was  born  in  County  Cavan,  Ireland,  on  St. 
Patrick's  Day,  1861,  his  parents  being  Owen — who  came  of  an  old 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  591 

and  historic  family — and  Rose  (Gannon)  MaGnire,  both  of  whom 
spent  their  lives  in  their  native  County  Cavan. 

Young  MaGuire  having  attended  the  national  schools  until  he 
was  twelve,  then  started  out  to  earn  his  own  living.  For  some  years 
he  worked  on  his  father's  farm,  and  then  being  eighteen,  his  am- 
bitious disposition  led  him  to  essay  the  larger  possibilities  of  the 
western  world.  He  arrived  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  May  24th,  1871), 
immediately  going  to  work  for  the  City  Railway  Company,  where  he 
remained  two  years,  and  then  accepting  a  position  with  the  Phila- 
delphia &  Reading  Railway  as  night  clerk.  In  1881  he  decided  to 
go  West,  and  settling  in  Chicago,  obtained  work  with  the  Swift 
Packing  House,  at  the  same  time  attending  night  schools.  Such 
sterling  stuff  as  he  was  composed  of  was  bound  to  find  recognition, 
and  six  months  later  he  was  promoted  to  be  weigh  boss  and  hide 
inspector.  In  this  position  he  remained  until  May,  1889,  when  he 
received,  through  the  influence  of  Michael  McEnerney  and  Thomas 
Gahan,  an  appointment  in  the  water  office.  The  election  of  Mayor 
Washburne  in  1891  threw  him  out  of  a  political  job,  and  he  re- 
turned to  the  stock  yards  as  foreman  of  the  hide  department  for  T. 
E.  Weeks,  a  place  he  held  until  1892.  In  the  latter  year  he  became 
deputy  assessor  for  Charles  Rotenburg  of  the  Town  of  Lake,  and  the 
following  year,  at  the  strong  solicitation  of  Thos.  Gahan,  railroad 
and  warehouse  commissioner,  Alderman  Thomas  Carey  and  Alder- 
man Mulcahy,  was  made  personal  bailiff  to  Judge  Tuley,  a  position 
he  still  retains  and  in  which  he  has  gained  the  respect  and  esteem  of 
every  employe  of  the  County  Building. 

Mr.  MaGuire  was  married  June  1st,  1875,  at  St.  James  Church, 
Rockford,  Ills.,  to  Norah  E.  Hayes,  and  one  daughter  has  blessed 
their  union. 

A  Roman  Catholic  in  his  religious  views,  and  strictly  Demo- 
cratic in  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  MaGuire  is  a  member  of 


592  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

numerous  fraternal  organizations  and  Irish  societies,  among  which 
may  be  mentioned  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  in  which,  since 
1887,  he  has  been  president  of  Division  No.  6,  and  the  Illinois  Coun- 
cil of  the  Royal  Arcanum. 


JAMES  J.   RYAN. 


James  J.  Ryan,  the  young  Irish  patriot  who  is  also  evincing 
such  brilliant  promise  as  a  financier,  was  born  in  Chicago,  August 
19th,  1870.  His  father,  James  J.  Ryan,  was  a  native  of  County  Tip- 
perary,  Ireland,  and  his  mother,  Limerick. 

James  J.  Ryan  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
and  graduated  from  the  high  schools  of  his  native  city.  His  edu- 
cation completed,  he  traveled  extensively  in  Europe  and  through 
the  British  Islands,  making  a  stay  of  several  months  in  Ireland, 
where  he  made  a  thorough  study  of  the  social  and  political  condi- 
tions of  the  Irish  people,  and  of  the  system  of  landlordism  there  in 
operation.  In  his  speeches  he  has  advocated  very  forcibly  that 
Ireland,  from  its  impartial  geographical  position,  as  well  as  from 
many  other  resources,  should  be  an  independent  nation.  Mr. 
Ryan's  ardent  patriotism  is  not  only  inherited  from  ancestors,  but 
is  the  result  of  his  own  personal  study  and  observation.  He  was 
one  of  the  young  representative  delegates  at  the  New  Movement 
Convention,  and  is  a  warm  advocate  of  the  principles  for  which 
Robert  Emmet  worked  and  suffered. 

In  1889  Mr.  Ryan  received  an  appointment  in  the  Live  Stock 
National  Bank,  which  position  he  still  holds. 

Mr.  Ryan  was  married  in  1896  to  the  charming  daughter  of 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  693 

4 

Lieut.  1'.  B.  Tieruey.     He  is  a  Itoimiu  Catholic  iu  religion,  aiid  in 
political  affiliations  is  a  Democrat. 

lie  has  made  a  distinguished  mark  for  a  man  yet  under  thirty, 
and  there  is  unquestionably  a  bright  and  successful  career  before 
him. 


MICHAEL  F.  FANNING. 

Michael  F.  Fanning  was  bom  in  County  Leitrim,  Ireland,  and 
iu  the  national  schools  there  received  his  education.  The  Faimings 
are  of  Norman  descent  and  the  family  dates  back  for  many  cen- 
turies, but  like  many  others  of  Norman  stock  who  settled  in  Ireland 
they  became  more  Irish  even  than  the  Irish  themselves.  The 
mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Mary  O'Beirne,  is  of  Celtic 
origin,  her  ancestors  having  lived  in  the  town  of  Drumlayheen  for 
several  generations,  and  many  of  the  O'Beirnes,  as  well  as  the  Fan- 
niugs,  suffered  the  loss  of  their  estates  during  the  years  of  confisca- 
tion, and  later  some  even  gave  up  their  lives  during  the  struggles 
of  the  Irish  people  to  obtain  freedom  and  the  right  even  to  live. 

M.  F.  Fanning  came  to  the  United  States  in  1875  and  for  several 
years  made  his  home  iu  Boston.  Having  taken  up  the  book  pub- 
lishing business  in  1878,  he  became  well  known  as  a  publisher  in 
Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  establishing  his  headquarters  in  Pittsburg 
In  1890  he  removed  to  Chic'ago.  Since  he  came  of  age  he  has 
always  taken  an  active  interest  in  every  movement  having  for  its 
object  the  welfare  of  the  Irish  people,  and  has  been  closely  asso- 
ciated with  and  made  himself  prominent  in  all  the  Irish  societies. 
As  acting  secretary  of  the  New  Movement  Convention,  Mr.  Fan- 
ning's  efforts  unquestionably  contributed  in  a  very  large  degree 


594  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP   THE 

| 

towards  the  success  of  that  international  gathering,  and  as  one  of 
the  national  officers  of  the  Irish  National  Alliance  said  at  its  close, 
"to  Mr.  Fanning,  more  than  to  any  other  person,  does  the  credit 
belong  for  the  success  of  this  convention." 

Mr.  Fanning  is  still  engaged  in  the  publishing  business,  his 
latest  work  in  the  literary  line  being  the  publication  of  an  ably 
written  and  handsomely  printed  volume  on  the  New  Movement 
Convention,  and  which  contains  biographical  sketches  and  portraits 
of  140  leading  Irish  Nationalists  from  all  over  the  United  States 
and  Canada.  The  subscription  list  of  the  work  was  a  large  one  and 
a  large  sale  still  continues  throughout  the  entire  country. 

Mr.  Fanning  is  married  and  resides  on  Indiana  Avenue,  in  the 
town  of  Hyde  Park.  Young  and  energetic,  a  handsome,  strong, 
stalwart  Irishman  of  charming  manner  and  considerable  conversa- 
tional ability,  he  possesses  an  army  of  friends  who  esteem  him  for 
his  personal  gifts  as  well  as  for  his  honest  and  straightforward 
methods,  and  are  free  in  prophesying  for  him  a  future  of  useful- 
ness, power  and  prominence. 


JAMES  BURNS. 


This  young  but  already  well  known  American  Irish  architect 
was  born  in  the  State  of  Michigan  in  March,  1858.  His  parents, 
Peter  and  Elizabeth  Burns,  were  respectively  from  Wicklow  and 
Wexford,  and  left  Ireland  in  1853  to  settle  in  Michigan  and  engage 
in  farming.  Peter  Burns  died  in  1893,  and  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject in  1895, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  595 

James  Bums  received  his  education  in  the  public  school  of  Hills- 
dale,  Mich.,  where  he  took  the  ordinary  business  course.  As  a  boy 
lie  was  fond  of  carpentering,  and  in  the  summer  mouths  spent  all  his 
spare  time  that  way.  In  1879,  having  decided  to  come  to  Chicago, 
he  entered  the  office  of  the  well-known  architect,  Mr.  Robert  Cobb, 
in  order  to  learn  the  business.  Eighteen  months  later  he  started 
out  for  himself  as  a  contractor  and  builder,  and  in  1891  took  up  the 
profession  in  which  he  is  now  engaged,  and  of  which  he  has  made 
a  success. 

Mr.  Burns  was  married  in  Chicago  in  1885  to  Elizabeth  McCau- 
ley,  and  they  have  four  children,  two  boys  and  two  girls. 

A  Roman  Catholic  in  his  religious  belief,  he  is  in  politics  an  in- 
dependent Democrat.  He  is  a -member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and 
also  of  the  Columbus  Club,  and  takes  high  rank  for  ability  and  for 
popularity  among  the  American  Irish  of  Chicago. 


REV.  THOMAS  CUMING  HALL,  D.  D. 


A  very  worthy  son  of  an  illustrious  father  is  Dr.  Thomas  C.  Hall, 
pastor  of  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  Church  of  Chicago,  who  was 
born  in  County  Armagh,  Ireland,  September  25th,  1858.  His 
parents  were  Rev.  John  Hall,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  and  Miss  Bolton  of 
Dublin.  His  father,  who  was  of  Scottish  descent,  was  also  born  in 
Armagh,  Ireland,  July  21st,  1829,  and  in  1849  he  was  sent  on  mis- 
sionary work  to  the  West  of  Ireland,  later,  by  royal  appointment, 
being  made  Commissioner  of  Education  for  Ireland.  So  admired, 
however,  was  he  by  the  people  of  New  York,  which  city  he  visited  in 


596  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OP   THE 

1807  as  a  delegate  from  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Ireland  to  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  the  United  States,  that  he  was  invited  to 
return  and  assume  charge  of  the  Fifth  Avenue  Presbyterian  Church. 
He  did  so,  being  installed  November  3d,  1867,  and  immediately  be- 
came one  of  the  most  popular  clergymen  in  the  city,  and  with  a 
congregation  embracing  more  very  wealthy  men  than  any  other  in 
the  United  States.  His  church  was  soon  found  to  be  too  small  for 
the  requirements,  and  in  1875  a  larger  church  was  built  at  the  corner 
of  Fifth  Avenue  and  Fifty-ninth  Street.  The  Kev.  John  Hall  has 
written  and  published  a  considerable  number  of  religious  works, 
and  is  known  and  respected  throughout  the  English-speaking  world 
as  a  divine  of  exceptional  power  and  ability. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  early  education  from  a 
private  tutor,  completing  his  studies  at  the  Princeton  College,  where 
he  graduated  in  1879,  and  later  at  the  Union  Theological  Seminary, 
New  York.  After  graduating  at  the  latter  in  1882  he  spent  two 
years  at  the  University  of  Berlin  at  Gottiugen.  Returning  then  to 
the  United  States,  he  was  called  to  take  charge  of  the  Southwest 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Omaha,  Neb.,  later  being  summoned  to 
Chicago  to  take  charge  of  the  Forty-first  Street  Presbyterian 
Church,  Avhere  he  remained  until  1893,  when  he  became  pastor  of 
the  Fourth  Presbyterian  Church,  and  is  still  the  incumbent. 

Dr.  Hall  was  married  in  London,  England,  in  1884,  to  Miss  Jen- 
nie Bartling,  daughter  of  Professor  Bartling  of  Gottingen.  They 
have  had  no  children. 

With  the  degree  of  D.  D.,  Dr.  Hall  was  honored  by  Hamilton 
College  in  1894.  He  is  a  close  and  industrious  student  and  a  mem- 
ber of  a  large  number  of  societies,  among  which  might  particularly 
be  mentioned  the  American  Society  of  Historical  Research;  the 
Society  of  Sociology,  and  the  Society  of  Biblical  Research. 

An  extensive  traveler,  both  in  this  country  and  throughout 
Europe,  he  has  a  fund  of  information  and  the  ability  to  impart  what 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  697 

he  knows  in  a  most  pleasing  and  unassuming  way.  Indeed,  as  a 
conversationalist  lie  would  sliine  in  any  company.  In  personal  ap- 
pearance he  is  tall  and  of  commanding  presence,  courtly  and  digni- 
fied. Kindly  and  straightforward,  it  would  be  difficult  to  discover 
a  more  thorough  representative  member  of  the  cloth  than  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  the  Kev.  Thomas  Cumiug  Hall,  D.  D. 


PATRICK  J.  HEALY. 


Patrick  J.  Ilealy  was  born  March  16th,  1840,  at  Mallow,  County 
Cork.  At  the  age  of  ten  he  came  with  his  parents,  James  and 
Catharine  (Sheehan)  Healy  to  Boston,  and  there  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools.  In  that  city  also  he  obtained  his  first 
insight  into  the  musical  business  in  which  he  has  since  been  so 
eminently  successful. 

As  to  himself  and  what  he  has  accomplished  in  the  world,  Mr. 
Ilealy  refuses  to  speak  and  permits  the  firm,  of  which  he  is  the 
head,  to  tell  his  story.  The  two  are  indeed  linked  together  in  a 
manner  no  power  can  separate. 

Lyon  &  Healy  began  business  in  the  year  1864  as  a  co-partner- 
ship with  a  capital  of  $36,000.  The  progress  made  was  rapid;  for 
five  years  later  there  was  no  building  in  the  West  devoted  to  music 
which  could  compare  with  theirs.  Their  location  was  then  at  the 
corner  of  Washington  Street  and  Wabash  Avenue,  in  the  very 
heart  of  the  retail  district.  On  September  4th,  1870,  after  one 
year's  occupancy,  the  premises  were  entirely  destroyed  and  the 
difficulty  of  gathering  a  new  stock  from  every  part  of  the  earth  had 


598  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF  THE 

to  be  faced,  in  addition  to  the  heavy  financial  loss.  Energy  and 
pluck,  however,  are  distinguishing  traits  of  the  American  and  Irish, 
and  the  work  was  finally  accomplished,  premises  being  secured  at 
150  Clark  Street.  Again  fate  opposed,  and  when  the  ravage  of 
the  great  fire  of  Chicago  was  passed,  no  vestige  of  the  business 
remained — their  whole  property  was  lost.  Once  more  the  stern 
stuff  of  which  the  firm  was  composed — Mr.  Lyon,  a  typical  Amer- 
ican, and  Mr.  Healy,  the  energetic  Celt — demonstrated  itself.  A 
little  church,  far  out  on  the  South  Side,  was  secured  without  a  day's 
unnecessary  delay,  and  with  undiminished  effort,  business  was  re- 
commenced. A  year  later  a  site  was  secured  down-town,  162  State 
Street,  a  section  of  the  present  immense  premises. 

With  moderate  good  fortune,  business  was  continued,  but  dur- 
ing 1874  the  premises  barely  escaped  a  second  conflagration,  and  all 
the  stock  had  to  be  hastily  removed.  Then  came  the  panic  times  of 
1875  and  1878,  and  consequent  decline  in  all  business.  Having 
successfully  weathered  this  period,  from  '79  to  '83  were  times  of 
marked  prosperity,  but  the  two  following  years  were  again  un- 
propitious.  In  the  latter  year,  Charles  N.  Post  and  K,  B.  Gregory, 
both  of  Chicago,  became  members  of  the  firm.  The  storm  was 
weathered,  and  from  1886  to  1892  the  business  of  the  firm  increased 
and  prospered,  so  much  so  that  in  the  World's  Fair  year  the  aggre- 
gate receipts  for  many  days  towards  the  close  exceeded  $10,000 
per  day.  This  is  not  surprising  when  from  the  report  of  the  United 
States  Custom  House,  regarding  musical  merchandise,  it  is  shown 
that  in  that  year  Lyon  &  Healy  did  four  times  as  much  business  in 
its  line  as  all  the  other  firms  in  Chicago  together.  Previous  to  1888, 
the  business  done  had  been  that  of  dealers,  there  was  no  manu- 
facturing; now  they  are  the  largest  manufacturers  of  stringed  in- 
struments in  the  world.  To  cope  with  the  immense  business,  which 
natural  growth  assisted  by  the  industry  and  enterprise  which  com- 
manded public  confidence  had  produced,  it  was  found  necessary  to 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  599 

incorporate  in  1890,  and  Mr.  P.  J.  Healy  became  president  of  the 
company. 

His  leadership,  with  the  able  support  he  received  from  the  other 
members  of  the  firm — all  men  who,  with  the  single  exception  of  Mr. 
Healy,  Jr.,  had  averaged  a  quarter  of  a  century  in  the  service  of 
the  house — carried  Lyon  &  Healy  through  the  panic  times  of  1893 
successfully.  Early  in  1894,  Mr.  Lyon,  so  long  associated  with  the 
business,  through  its  troubles,  misfortunes  and  final  victories, 
joined  the  great  majority. 

In  attention  to  the  heavy  details  connected  with  so  vast  a  busi- 
ness, Mr.  Healy  is  simply  indefatigable.  He  has  surrounded  him- 
self with  men  of  energetic  abilities,  who,  under  his  constant  per- 
sonal superintendence,  have  gained  the  experience  enabling  them  to 
fitly  conduct  the  business  of  the  world  famed  Lyon  &  Healy. 


WALTER  JOSEPH   GIBBONS. 


Walter  Joseph  Gibbons  was  born  June  12th,  1859,  in  the  city 
of  Chicago.  He  was  the  son  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Joyce)  Gibbons, 
his  father  a  native  of  Louisburg,  County  Mayo,  Ireland,  and  his 
mother  from  what  is  known  as  the  Joyce  County  in  County  Gal- 
way,  and  which  is  situated  close  to  Clifden. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  when  a  boy,  attended  the  public 
schools  of  this  city,  and  later  the  high  school,  but  was  compelled  to 
leave  the  latter  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  to  assist  in  the  support  of  the 
family.  He  found  employment  in  the  office  of  the  wholesale  de- 


600  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OP   THE 

partment  of  Marshall  Field,  where  he  rose  to  a  position  of  con- 
siderable responsibility,  and  remained  for  sixteen  years. 

In  1891  he  was  appointed  to  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  by 
Governor  Fifer,  on  the  recommendation  of  the  judges  of  the  Courts 
of  Record,  and  his  studious  disposition  having  in  the  meantime  led 
him  to  study  law,  he  was  admitted  to  practice  at  the  bar  in  1893, 
graduating  from  the  Chicago  College  of  Law  in  that  year,  and  in 
1895  received  re-appointment  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  by  Governor 
Altgeld  for  a  further  four  years'  term. 

Judge  Gibbons  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Royal  League, 
Social  Council  No.  35;  the  Wholesale  Dry  Goods  Council  of  the 
National  Union;  the  Catholic  Total  Abstinence  Movement,  of 
which  he  has  been  President  of  the  Archdiocesan  Union;  ex-Sec- 
retary of  the  State  Union  since  the  amalgamation,  and  is  now  Pres- 
ident of  the  Young  Men's  Catholic  Total  Abstinence  and  Benevolent 
Society,  of  which  he  has  been  three  times  President,  being  but  a 
few  months  since  re-elected  for  a  further  term.  He  has  been  a  del- 
egate to  all  the  National  Conventions  of  the  Temperance  movement, 
as  also  of  the  Irish  National  League  and  the  Land  League,  being 
one  of  the  foremost  and  most,  active  workers  in  the  cause  of  Ireland. 


MICHAEL   HAYES. 

Michael  Hayes  was  born  in  County  Limerick,  Ireland,  June  16th, 
1845,  his  parents  being  John  and  Bridget  (Hennessey)  Hayes,  both 
of  whom  were  natives  of  the  same  county,  where  his  father  was  a 
small  farmer,  but  in  his  section  of  the  country  borne  in  the  very 
highest  respect. 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  601 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but  eighteen  months  old  when 
his  parents  left  their  native  land  and  came  to  Chicago.  He  at- 
tended the  public  schools  and  also  those  of  the  Christian  Brothers 
until  he  was  thirteen,  when  he  procured  work  in  a  soda  water  fac- 
tory at  the  corner  of  Lake  and  Canal  Streets,  later  entering  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Lomax  Soda  Water  Factory,  and  remained  with  the 
latter  firm  for  five  years.  In  1859  he  took  up  work  with  a  tinsmith 
in  order  to  learn  the  tinsmith's  trade,  and  having  spent  three  years 
with  him,  entered  similar  employ  where  the  Haymarket  Theatre 
now  stands,  and  in  that  pla6e  remained  for  seven  years.  June, 
1871,  he  and  his  brother,  Patrick  Hayes,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Hayes  Bros.,  embarked  in  the  soda  water  business  at  the  corner 
of  Carr  Avenue  and  Leavitt  Street.  Of  course  the  start  was  in  a 
small  way,  a  shed  being  utilized,  and  the  brothers  possessing  but 
one  wagon  with  which  to  deliver  goods;  yet  from  this  small  be- 
ginning the  business  has  progressed  until  at  the  present  time  it  is 
the  largest,  plrfnt  of  its  kind  outside  of  the  trust.  In  1883  the  Hayes 
Brothers  were  in  a  position  to  purchase  the  Hutchin  plant  for 
thirty  thousand  dollars,  and  when  what  is  known  as  the  Soda  Water 
Trust  was  formed  some  few  years  ago,  the  Hayes  and  the  Lomaxes 
of  the  Chicago  Bottle  Works  were  its  largest  stockholders.  Mr. 
Hayes,  not  being  satisfied  with  the  way  the  managers  of  the  trust 
were  treating  some  of  the  small  stockholders,  drew  out  his  hold- 
ings, and  erecting  his  great  plant,  once  more  began  to  do  business 
on  his  own  account,  regardless  of  the  fact  that  the  trust  offered  to 
make  him  any  concession  if  he  would  but.  retain  his  connection. 
His  action  in  the  matter  has  been  well  justified,  and  the  firm  are 
now  doing  a  business  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  a  year. 

The  heavy  demands  of  his  business  affairs  has  left  but  little 
time  to  devote  to  politics,  although  at  the  solicitation  of  his  friends 
he  was  upon  one  occasion  induced  to  run  for  alderman  of  his  ward. 
The  result  was  a  defeat,  although  only  by  a  few  votes,  and  since 


602  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 

he  has  been  repeatedly  asked  to  stand  for  County  Commissioner, 
but  this  he  has  always  refused. 

In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  in  religion  a  Roman 
Catholic  and  a  member  of  the  congregation  of  the  Church  of  Our 
Lady  of  Sorrows. 


WILLIAM   M.   HERELEY. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at  Brasher  Falls,  St.  Law- 
rence County,  N.  Y.,  March  31,  1848.  His  father,  Daniel,  and 
mother,  Hannah  (Gantry)  Hereley,  came  from  County  Cork,  Ireland, 
in  1840,  and  settled  in  St.  Lawrence  County.  His  father  was  a 
farmer,  and  William  M.  Hereley  had  to  work  on  the  farm  in  the 
summer  and  secure  what  slender  schooling  was  possible  in  the  win- 
ter months  by  attending  the  district  schools.  The  family,  includ- 
ing young  Hereley,  moved  to  McHenry  County  in  1863,  and  he  re- 
mained there  until  1871,  when  having  reached  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  he  decided  to  move  to  Chicago. 

As  a  young  man,  bright  and  quick,  with  first-class  business 
habits  as  well  as  a  reputation  gained  in  the  section  from  whence 
he  came  for  integrity  and  good  judgment,  he  began  to  buy  horses 
and  cattle  from  the  farmers,  bringing  them  to  Chicago  to  be  sold. 
His  dealings  proving  profitable,  he  bought  a  few  teams  and  entered 
into  the  draying  and  contracting  business.  In  this  he  continued 
until  October,  1874,  when  he  decided  to  open  a  store  on  Chicago 
Avenue,  and  engaged  in  the  business  of  selling  flour  and  feed. 

He  prides  himself  on  being  a  Democrat  of  the  Cleveland  type, 
an  advocate  for  sound  money. 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  603 

Mr.  llereley  has  held  the  position  of  President  of  the  Flour  and 
Feed  Dealers'  Association  of  Chicago,  is  Treasurer  of  the  Columbus 
Mutual  Life  Association  of  America,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Chi- 
cago Board  of  Trade,  where  he  operates  daily.  He  is  a  member  of 
Ilie  Club  of  McHenry,  Illinois;  the  Young  Men's  Catholic  Institute, 
Holy  Name  parish,  and  also  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  The  stand- 
ing he  has  among  his  fellow  men  is  well  illustrated  by  his  position 
as  Treasurer  of  the  Catholic  Total  Abstinence  Benevolent  Society 
of  the  Holy  Name  parish,  an  order  to  which  he  has  belonged  for 
twenty-one  years.  On  the  failure  for  $125,000  of  the  Inter  Ocean 
Building  and  Loan  Association,  he  was  appointed  by  the  court  a 
director  for  the  purpose  of  settling  up  the  business  and  winding  up 
its  affairs. 


MILLARD   B.  HERELEY. 


Since  1863  the  Hereley  family  have  been  widely  known  in  Chi- 
cago and  its  adjacent  counties.  Mr.  Millard  B.  Hereley,  born  in 
Saint  Lawrence  County,  New  York  State,  in  1858,  is  the  son  of 
Daniel  Hereley,  who  left  Ireland  upon  the  death  of  his  father,  a 
prominent  stock  raiser  and  exporter,  whose  sudden  end  during  a 
business  trip  to  England  influenced  his  son's  departure  for  America. 
Settling  in  St.  Lawrence  County,  Daniel  Hereley  was  shortly  after- 
ward married  to  Miss  Norah  Lantry,  whose  family  are  conspicuous 
in  that  favored  locality  for  remarkable  longevity,  and  whose  re- 
lationship extends  throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  oldest  fami- 
lies of  that  region.  In  1863,  shortly  after  the  birth  of  the  subject 

of  this  sketch,  his  father  came  to  Chicago,  finally  locating  in  Mc- 
32 


604  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF  THE 

Henry  County.     The  family  consisted  of  six  boys  and  six  girls,  of 
whom  ten  are  living. 

The  early  days  of  Millard  B.  Hereley  were  spent  at  the  Marengo 
High  School,  after  which  followed  a  course  of  law  at  the  Union 
College  of  Law,  Chicago,  but  his  inclinations  favoring  commercial  * 
instead  of  professional  life,  he  became  a  member  of  the  Chicago 
Board  of  Trade,  and  with  his  elder  brother,  M.  H.  Hereley,  estab- 
lished the  Hereley  system  of  warehouses  under  the  name  of  the 
Hereley  Brothers  Commission  Co.  The  outgrowth  of  this  estab- 
lishment is  today  recognized  as  the  largest  hay  warehouses  in  the 
world.  It  has  produced  a  radical  change  from  the  Indiana  slough 
products  to  the  richer  grasses  from  Iowa,  and  so  soon  as  introduced, 
speedily  gained  the  lead  in  the  Chicago  hay  trade.  In  1883  Mr. 
Hereley  became  identified  with  politics,  being  elected  to  the  State 
Senate,  in  which  he  served  two  terms  for  the  Thirteenth  Senatorial 
District.  He  was  also  appointed  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion by  the  late  Carter  Harrison  in  1885,  and  then  re-appointed  in 
1889  by  ex-Mayor  Cregier,  his  present  connection  politically  being 
as  special  agent  for  the  United  States  Secret  Service  Department. 

In  1890  Mr.  Hereley  became  President  of  the  Irish  American 
Club,  and  is  widely  known  in  the  club  circles  for  his  active  and 
faithful  work.  As  far  back  as  1884  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Cook  County  Young  Democracy,  which  was  afterwards  merged 
with  the  County  Democracy.  He  being  a  consistent  Democrat,  has 
always  abided  with  the  wishes  of  the  majority,  and  his  widely 
ranged  travels  from  Alaska  to  Mexico  on  semi-official  business 
have  placed  him  today  with  an  experience  and  a  broad  liberality 
politically  that  can  only  be  acquired  by  such  means. 

In  1886  Mr.  Hereley  was  married  to  Miss  Hannah  Murphy,  a  lady 
of  great  popularity  in  society  and  musical  circles.  Mrs.  Hereley 
is  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Daniel  Murphy,  a  retired  South  Water  Street 
merchant,  and  one  of  the  oldest  business  men  of  that  busy  street. 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  605 

They  have  three  children,  two  girls  and  one  boy.     They  reside  at 
Erie  and  Pine  Streets. 

Mr.  Hereley  can  be  pointed  ont  as  a  gentleman  of  the  leading 
and  representative  Chicago  younger  type  of  citizens,  a  man  of 
energy  and  determination,  with  those  strict  business  principles 
which,  never  recognizing  failure,  are  absolutely  bound  to  secure  suc- 
cess. 


MICHAEL   F.  MCENERNY. 


Another  typical  Irish  American,  one  whose  individual  efforts, 
energy,  integrity  and  loyalty  to  his  friends  have  gained  for  him  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  every  one  brought  into  contact  with  him,  as 
well  as  fortune,  is  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch. 

Michael  F.  McEnerny  was  born  February  2d,  1855,  in  the  County 
Limerick,  Ireland.  Both  his  parents  are  deceased,  his  father, 
Thomas  McEnerny,  in  the  old  country  in  1870,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
six,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Shannon,  in  Chicago 
in  1882,  at  the  same  age. 

Mr.  M.  F.  McEnerny  obtained  his  education  in  the  public  and 
national  schools  of  the  county  in  which  he  lived.  His  schooling 
was  short,  for  at  the  age  of  twelve  he  went  to  work  in  a  flour  mill 
in  Limerick,  and  remained  there  until  he  was  sixteen,  when  he  de- 
cided to  try  his  fortunes  in  America.  With  his  mother  he  came  to 
this  country  and  settled  in  Chicago,  soon  obtaining  a  position  in  the 
Stock  Yards*  where  he  worked  for  ten  years,  filling  nearly  every 
position  to  be  found  there. 

He  has  since  held  various  offices,  being  three  times  elected  a 


006  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

member  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  the  Town  of  Lake,  serving 
nine  years.  He  was  afterwards  appointed  to  the  Board  of  Trustees 
to  fill  a  vacancy  and  was  subsequently  confirmed  in  a  public  elec- 
tion for  the  same  office,  in  which  he  remained  from  1887  to  1889. 
During  the  following  year  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legis- 
lature, to  which  he  was  re-elected  in  1892.  At  the  end  of  the  lat- 
ter term,  having  had  his  sufficiency  of  official  life,  he  absolutely 
declined  to  run  for  any  other  office. 

His  political  views  are,  and  have  always  been,  those  of  the 
Democratic  party.  He  is  an  upholder  of  the  sound-money  princi- 
ples. 

He  was  married  October  20th,  1880,  to  Catharine  Hefferman, 
and  their  home  now  rejoices  in  five  children,  three  girls  and  two 
boys. 

Mr.  McEnerny  was  for  some  time  a  member  of  the  Hibernian 
Ilifles.  He  visited  Europe  and  the  old  country  in  1894,  spending  the 
whole  summer  in  Ireland,  visiting  the  scenes  of  his  boyhood's  asso- 
ciations, and  where,  however  patriotic  to  the  land  of  his  adoption, 
the  heart  of  a  true  Irishman  must  always  turn  with  loving  devo- 
tion. 


JAMES   BASIL   MCLAUGHLIN. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Boss  County,  Ohio,  March 
12th,  1857,  his  father  being  James  McLaughlin,  a  native  of  Pike 
County  in  that  state,  whose  father,  John,  had  come  to  the  United 
States  from  the  North  of  Ireland,  settling  first  in  Virginia  and  later 
moving  to  Pike  County,  Ohio.  The  grandmother  was  a  niece  of  the 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  607 

celebrated  English  painter,  Benjamin  West.  James  McLaughlin 
was  by  occupation  a  farmer,  but  was  also  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business  until  his  death  in  1881.  He  married  Martha  Jane  Robey, 
whose  ancestors,  crossing  from  England  with  Lord  Baltimore,  were 
settlers  in  Baltimore  and  became  prominent  in  the  Revolution. 
She  died  in  1864.  Of  her  brothers,  two  were  in  the  late  Civil  War, 
and  one,  Captain  Kobey,  is  now  a  prominent  and  wealthy  resident 
of  Detroit,  Michigan. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  public  schools  and  high 
school  of  his  native  town  and  later  for  a  short  time  the  Ohio  Uni- 
versity, but  as  has  been  said  before,  he  is  largely  a  self-educated 
man,  for  it  is  to  his  later  studies  at  home  and  the  fact  that  he  always 
had  a  book  in  his  hand  while  driving  a  team  or  hauling  lumber  for 
his  father,  in  that  way  managing  to  put  in  considerable  hard  study, 
that  he  attributes  the  knowledge  he  has  been  able  to  acquire. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  a  position  was  secured  by  him  as  teacher 
in  the  district  school  of  Ross  County,  Ohio,  where  his  early  educa- 
tion had  been  received,  and  at  the  same  time  he  took  a  course  of  law 
study,  and  in  1882  was  finally  admitted  by  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Ohio,  in  a  very  rigid  examination,  the  one  out  of  a  class  of  forty-six 
taking  first  honors. 

Deciding  to  locate  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  he  opened  an  office  and 
began  to  practice  his  profession,  remaining  in  that  town  for  ten 
years.  It  was  in  the  fall  of  1892  that  Mr.  McLaughlin  became  con- 
vinced that  Chicago  offered  him  better  opportunities,  and  locating 
in  this  city  he  started  in  business.  For  some  time  he  practiced 
alone,  but  in  May  of  1895  he  associated  himself  with  Mr.  W.  D. 
Pearne,  under  the  name  of  M-cLaughlin  &  Pearne.  Mr.  McLaugh- 
liu's  practice  has  been  general,  but  he  has  been  most  unusually  suc- 
cessful, for  he  prides  himself  on  the  fact  that  he  has  never  lost  a . 
case,  the  reason  being  that  he  refuses  to  act  unless  he  believes  that 
he  has  justice  on  his  side.  The  firm  of  McLaughlin  &  Pearne 


60S  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE 

represents  among  other  leading  institutions  the  Dearborn  Savings 
and  Loan  Association,  The  Savings  Bank  Building  Loan  Associa- 
tion, Jenkens  &  Reynolds  Brick  Co.,  and  the  IToagland  &  Ladow 
Brick  Co. 

Mr.  McLaughlin  was  married  in  September,  1886,  to  Eleanor 
McDougal,  who  died  in  July,  1896.  They  had  four  children,  of 
whom  three  are  living. 

A  good  Tvepublicau,  he  has  always  persistently  kept  out  of  poli- 
tics. In  Masonic  circles  he  stands  very  high,  having  been  Past 
Eminent  Commander  of  Chillicothe  Commandery  No.  8,  and  also 
held  the  high  office  of  Illinois  representative  for  six  years  near  the 
Grand  Council  of  the  State  of  Ohio. 


MICHAEL   DENNIS   MADIGAN. 


Michael  Dennis  Madigau  was  born  in  Limerick,  Ireland,  March 
27th,  1858.  He  was  the  son  of  Dennis  and  Bridget  (O'Grady)  Madi- 
gau, his  father  being  a  prominent  member  of  the  Irish  Land  League, 
and  his  mother  also  identified  with  the  Ladies'  Laud  League.  The 
latter  died  May,  1888,  but  Dennis  Madigau  still  lives  in  the  old  laud 
across  the  sea. 

Michael  D.  Madigan  received  his  education  at  the  Christian 
Brothers  College  at  New  Castle  West,  County  Limerick.  Upon  the 
completion  of  his  education,  and  for  the  purpose  of  learning  the 
business,  he  entered  the  dry-goods  store  of  Thomas  Itoche  in  Lime- 
rick, with  whom  he  remained  three  years,  and  at  the  end  of  which 
time,  concluding  he  needed  a  bigger  field  to  work  in,  he  determined 
to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  new  world. 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  609 

Mr.  Madigao  arrived  in  Chicago  in  1876,  and  having  good  cre- 
dentials had  no  difficulty  in  securing  a  position  as  salesman  with  the 
dry  goods  firm  of  Partridge  Bros.,  at  that  time  occupying  the  New 
York  Store  011  Madison  Street,  between  Aberdeen  and  Morgan.  He 
remained  with  this  firm  for  five  years,  and  having  been  very  thrifty 
and  frugal  in  his  habits,  by  this  time  (1881)  had  managed  to  save 
from  his  wages  a  goodly  slim,  as  well  as  to  establish  a  reputation 
and  good  credit  among  the  wholesale  merchants  of  Chicago.  He 
therefore  decided  to  launch  out  in  business  for  himself.  He  was 
young,  full  of  energy,  and  a  good  judge  of  goods  and  values.  His 
first  venture,  of  course  in  a  small  way,  was  at  the  corner  of  Blue 
Island  Avenue  and  Ewing  Street,  and  proved  a  prosperous  one,  and 
two  years  later  a  store  was  opened  at  Halsted  and  Forty-seventh 
Street.  In  1891,  having  taken  his  brother,  I).  J.  Madigan,  in  with 
him  as  a  partner,  he  opened  a  large  and  commodious  store  on  Madi- 
son Street,  corner  of  Wood,  where  the  firm  have  a  large  and  pros- 
perous business. 


JOHN    MULLIN. 


John  Mulliu,  -one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Chicago,  is  one  of 
Chicago's  foremost  and  mo.-jt  resected  business  men,  and  is  at  the 
same  time  a  leading  Irishman.  He  was  born  on  St.  Valentine's  Day, 
1827,  in  the  County  of  Tipperary,  Ireland,  of  which  his  parents, 
pjdmuud  and  Johanuah  (Kirby)  Mullin,  were  both  natives.  His 
father  was  a  cousin  of  the  celebrated  worker  for  Ireland's  inde- 
pendence, John  O.  Mahoney. 

Having  secured  what  little  education  was  then  obtainable  in 


610  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE 

the  public  schools  of  his  country,  our  subject  apprenticed  himself 
to  a  shoemaker,  which  was  also  his  father's  trade,  and  having 
mastered  it,  worked  in  his  native  town  for  a  season  and  then  moved 
to  England.  Dissatisfied  with  his  life  and  prospects  in  the  old 
country,  and  hearing  glowing  accounts  of  what  a  man  of  energy 
could  accomplish  in  the  United  States,  he  set  out  in  1849  for  New 
York.  In  that  city  he  remained  but  a  short  time,  journeying  on  to 
Brownville,  N.  Y.,  where  he  secured  employment  in  a  shoe  shop. 

There  was  at  that  time  much  talk  of  California  as  a  field  for 
fortune,  and  soon  after  he  determined  to  see  what  the  gold  fields 
might  hold  for  him.  Just,  however,  as  he  was  about  to  set  out,  he 
was  attacked  by  typhoid  fever,  and  after  his  recovery,  decided  in- 
stead to  come  to  Chicago.  Upon  his  arrival  here  in  1852  he  declares 
the  prospect  was  most  unpleasing,  for  the  city  was  built  on  low 
marsh  land.  To  its  effects  he  became  a  victim,  for  he  contracted 
a  fever  which  used  up  all  his  savings. 

Suitable  premises  having  been  secured  at  67  West  Kinzie  Street, 
he  opened  up  the  business  which  was  afterwards  to  withstand  the 
many  financial  storms  of  forty-four  years,  and  to  grow  and  expand, 
until  to-day  it  is  considered  one  of  the  leading  boot  and  shoe  manu- 
facturing houses  in  the  country.  His  goods  are  known  and  largely 
used  all  over  the  West,  and  no  mining  camp  can  be  visited  without 
finding  Mullin's  boots  and  shoes  in  great  demand.  In  the  early 
years  his  factory  manufactured  for  Wells  &  Co.,  and  Fargo  &  Co., 
the  elder  Fargo  being  at  one  time  very  desirous  to  have  him  as  a 
partner.  During  the  war,  Mr.  Mullin  obtained  many  contracts  to 
make  shoes  for  the  soldiers  in  the  field,  and  Hon.  Thomas  B.  Bryan, 
at  that  time  one  of  the  men  who  had  charge  of  the  inspecting  of 
the  goods,  told  him  that  he  should  receive  a  gold  medal  for  making 
thoroughly  honest  goods,  which  at  that  time  was  such  a  rarity,  for 
every  one  seemed  to  feel  justified  in  cheating  Uncle  Sam  in  all 
possible  manners.  The  medal  never  eventualized,  however,  the 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  611 

matter  being  evidently  overlooked,  and  Mr.  Mullin's  business  af- 
fairs kept  him  too  much  occupied  to  investigate. 

Mr.  Mullin  did  a  large  trade  in  the  early  days  also  with  railroad 
men,  for  whom  he  sent  boots  and  shoes  all  over  the  country.  He 
now  owns  considerable  property  on  Milwaukee  Avenue  and  Lake 
Street,  as  well  as  the  property  on  which  his  factory  is  situated. 

He  was  married  to  Hannah  Murphy,  also  a  native  of  Ireland, 
in  1849,  just  before  his  departure  for  the  United  States,  and  to  her 
influence  and  good  help  he  attributes  in  great  part  his  success. 

In  politics  Mr.  Mullin  has  always  been  independent,  claiming 
the  right  to  vote  for  whoever  he  believes  to  be  the  best  man.  On 
several  occasions  he  has  refused  to  allow  his  name  to  be  used  as  a 
candidate  for  Alderman  of  the  Seventeenth  Ward.  In  religious 
views  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic. 

Mr.  Mullin  has  had  a  long  and  intimate  acquaintance  with 
public  men;  he  knew  General  Grant,  when  as  a  tanner  the  latter 
used  to  visit  Kinzie  Street  on  business,  and  was  also  well  ac- 
quainted with  Abraham  Lincoln  and  General  Sherman. 


JOHN   NEWPORT  JEMISON. 


John  Newport  Jemison  is  a  type  of  that  old  Irish  gentleman  one 
so  rarely  sees  nowadays,  but  when  found,  commands  appreciation; 
he  is  true  as  steel,  very  companionable,  fearless  to  an  eminent  degree 
and  with  that  polished  manner  which  never  fails  under  the  most 
trying  circumstances. 

He  was  born  in  the  city  of  Dublin,  Ireland,  May  29th,  1834.     His 


612  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF  THE 

parents,  John  and  Jane  (Newport)  •  Jemison,  were  both  of  well 
known  Irish  families.  His  father's  profession  was  that  of  a  banker; 
and  John  Newport  was  the  second  eldest  son.  As  was  the  custom 
in  the  Irish  families  of  that  day,  the  oldest  son  was  dedicated  to  the 
church;  law  claimed  the  second,  and  if  fortune  had  given  a  third, 
his  was  the  medical  profession. 

The  subject  of  this  biography  entered  Bective  House  College 
and  studied  there  until  he  was  sixteen,  when  he  left  and  entered 
the  office  of  Christopher  MeNally,  Esq.,  of  Dublin — where  he  com- 
menced to  study  the  law,  remaining  there  until  Mr.  MeNally  was 
killed  in  the  Straff  en  accident  at  Kings  Bridge. 

Entering  the  office  of  Robert  Taaffe,  he  continued  his  legal 
studies  until  he  was  admitted  to  practice  at  the  age  of  twenty-one. 

Mr.  Jemison  practiced  law  in  Dublin  for  fifteen  years  and  came 
to  America  in  1868,  locating  in  Chicago.  Not  being  possessed  of 
much  wealth  when  arriving  here,  he  concluded  that  he  had  better 
gain  a  practical  knowledge  of  the  practice  before  hanging  out  his 
shingle,  so  after  following  the  business  of  life  insurance  and  news- 
paper solicitor  for  a  time,  he,  through  the  influence  of  Hon.  W.  J. 
Onahan,  secured  a  position  under  Dan  O'Hara,  who  at  that  time 
was  clerk  of  the  Recorder's  Court,  and  was  appointed  record  writer 
of  the  civil  branch,  this  court  at  the  time  having  civil  as  well  as 
criminal  jurisdiction.  After  that  he  was  deputy  clerk  of  the  Circuit 
Court,  under  Judge  Rogers;  deputy  clerk  of  the  Criminal  Court, 
and  from  there  he  went  to  the  County  Court.  From  1872  he  was 
deputy  assessor  for  the  west  town,  soon  after  he  went  into  the 
County  Clerk's  office  to  help  Herman  Leib,  County  Clerk,  prepare 
the  records  for  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois,  and  for  a  time  was  in 
the  United  States  Court,  assisting  in  the  preparation  of  briefs  for 
the  United  States  Supreme  Court. 

Mr.  Jemison  subsequently  commenced  to  practice  in  Chicago. 
From  the  foregoing  experience  it  will  be  seen  that  no  lawyer  in  the 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  613 

city  has  had  the  good  fortune  to  obtain  such  practical  knowledge  of 
the  law  and  the  practice  in  this  country  as  Mr.  Jemison,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  thorough  law  training  he  received  in  Ireland.  With  a 
jury  he  is  particularly  strong,  being  a  very  forcible  and  interesting 
speaker  and  full  of  fun  and  mother  wit.  His  abilities  have  pro- 
cured him  a  large  and  remunerative  practice. 

Mr.  Jemison  is  very  high  in  Masonic  circles,  belongs  to  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  Grand  Ix>dge  of  Illinois,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Mutual  Aid,  and  others. 

A  member  of  the  Episcopal  church,  he  is  very  liberal  in  his  re- 
ligious views,  recognizing  in  the  Most  Itev.  P.  A.  Feehan  a  grand 
representative  of  his  race. 

In  politics,  a  Tory  in  the  old  country,  he  has  always  been  a 
Democrat  in  this.  He  believes  that  Grover  Cleveland  is  far  in  ad- 
vance of  his  party. 


PATRICK  QUAID  MADIGAN. 


Patrick  Quaid  Madigau  was  born  in  New  Castle  West,  County 
Limerick,  Ireland,  November  17th,  1863.  His  father  was  James, 
and  his  mother,  Jane  (Quaid)  Madigan,  the  father  being  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  that  section  of  the  country,  and  one  of  the  most 
prominent  merchants.  His  grandfather,  Kobert  Quaid,  was  of  good 
old  Irish  stock,  and,  in  fact,  for  years  both  sides  of  the  family  had 
been  prominent  and  several  of  his  father's  brothers  had  token  a 

leading  part  in  Irish  affairs. 

* 

Patrick  Quaid  Madigan  received  his  education  at  the  School  of 
the  Christian  Brothers,  at  his  native  place,  and  after  receiving  what 


614  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OP   THE 

was  then  considered  a  good  education,  concluded  to  seek  bis  fortune 
in  the  New  World.  He  landed  in  New  York  April  2d,  1881,  but 
remained  only  a  few  months  in  that  city,  as  he  was  satisfied  the 
West  offered  greater  opportunities,  and  therefore  started  for  Chi- 
cago. 

He  was  fortunate  in  finding  a  position  with  P.  F.  Ryan,  with 
whom  he  remained  ten  years  as  salesman  and  dress  goods  buyer. 
In  1890,  his  frugal  habits  had  enabled  him  to  accumulate  some  little 
money,  as  well  as  a  fair  credit  with  the  merchants  of  the  city,  and 
he  therefore  determined  to  go  into  business  for  himself.  He  started 
011  Ogdeu  Avenue.  From  the  very  beginning  his  business  was  a 
success.  Its  rapid  increase  compelled  Mr.  Madigan  to  take  a  part- 
ner, which  he  did  in  the  person  of  his  brother,  Thomas,  who  had 
gained  considerable  experience  with  the  wholesale  dry  goods  house 
of  Carson,  Pirie,  Scott  &  Co.,  during  the  preceding  eight  years. 

He  was  married  on  the  17th  of  October,  1892,  to  Therese  Purcell 
of  Chicago,  and  they  have  one  child,  a  daughter. 

Mr.  Madigan  belongs  to  the  'Royal  League,  and  the  Catholic 
Benevolent  Legion;  in  the  latter  society  he  holds  the  position  of 
orator.  In  his  religious  views  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  a  regular 
attendant  of  St.  Charles'  Church,  while  in  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 


WILLIAM  LAW,  JR. 

One  of  the  most  distinguished  members  of  the  Chicago  bar  is 
William  Law,  Jr.,  who  was  born  January  31st,  1841,  at  Nauvoo, 
Hancock  County,  Illinois.  His  father  was  Dr.  WTilliam  Law,  a  na- 
tive of  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  his  ancestors  having  moved  there 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  615 

from  Scotland  during  the  religious  persecutions  of  1600.  Having 
decided  to  leave  the  old  country,  he  landed  in  Toronto,  moving 
later— about  1840 — to  Illinois,  where  he  attained  great  success  as 
a  surgeon  and  physician,  and  enjoyed  a  large  and  remunerative 
practice  extending  all  over  the  section  in  which  he  resided.  He 
continued  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  until  his  death  in  1893, 
at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-three.  He  had  married  Jane  Silverthorne, 
a  lady  of  Scotch  origin,  who  was  born  in  Nova  Scotia  and  who  died 
in  1883. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  early  education  at  the 
Plattsville,  Wis.,  Academy,  was  then  sent  to  a  private  school  at 
Freeport,  Ills.,  and  was  finished  by  a  private  tutor  at  home.  In 
1859,  having  decided  on  embracing  the  legal  profession,  he  com- 
menced the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Heybee  &  Law,  at  Shulls- 
burg,  Wis.,  the  junior  member  of  the  firm  being  an  elder  brother- 
Thomas  J.  Law,  who  is  still  practicing  law  in  that  town  and  is  at  the 
same  time  publisher  of  a  newspaper  there.  He  later  continued  his 
studies  in  the  office  of  Mr.  Oscar  Tayler  at  Freeport,  111.,  and  then, 
in  1861,  moved  to  Chicago  and  entered  the  office  of  the  late  James  II. 
Knowlton,  at  one  time  the  head  of  the  Wisconsin  bar,  where  his 
course  of  study  was  completed.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1862, 
and  immediately  began  to  practice  law  with  offices  in  the  old  Lar- 
mon  Block,  corner  Washington  and  Clark  Streets,  and  which  is  now 
known  as  the  Reaper  Block.  But  two  years  of  practice  in  Chicago 
led  him  to  conclude  that  the  growing  West  presented  a  better  field 
for  an  ambitious  young  lawyer  than  any  large  city  could,  and  he 
consequently  moved  to  Boise  City,  Idaho,  in  1864. 

While  there,  he  was  engaged  in  most  of  the  important  litigation 
which  occurred,  and  was  for  some  time  Clerk  of  the  United  States 
Court,  and  for  a  while  Acting  United  States  District  Attorney. 
Several  other  sections  of  the  West  having  been  visited,  he  decided 


616  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

Chicago  was  now  the  place  for  him  to  definitely  locate,  and  he  re- 
turned to  this  city  in  I860. 

The  career  of  William  Lav/  at  the  Chicago  bar  has  since  been 
marked  with  distinguished  success.  His  practice  has  been  general 
and  has  extended  to  all  of  the  courts,  and  while  not  confined  to  any 
one  branch  of  the  law  until  the  last  few  years,  when  he  took  charge 
of  the  legal  department  of  the  North  Western  Life  Assurance  Com- 
pany, still  his  experience  in  corporation  law  has  brought  him  into 
prominent  connection  with  some  of  the  most  important  cases  of  cor- 
poration litigation  in  the  history  of  the  city. 

At  the  present  time  his  work  is  mainly  devoted  to  the  legal 
affairs  of  the  Insurance  Company  he  represents,  and  also  as  Con- 
sulting Counsel  for  several  large  corporations,  as  he  has  obtained 
the  reputation  of  one  of  the  leading  authorities  on  corporation  and 
insurance  law  in  Chicago.  For  seven  years  past  he  has  been  a 
director  and  legal  advisor  of  the  North  Western  Assurance  Com- 
pany, and  his  professional  estimation  was  fully  demonstrated  by 
his  appointment  as  County  Attorney  for  Cook  County,  an  office  he 
filled  in  every  way  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  community. 

In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  staunch  member  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  until  the  present  time  has  by  voice  and  pen  done 
whatever  was  in  his  power  for  the  cause,  but  now  believes  that  the 
duty  of  every  loyal  citizen  is  to  do  all  possible  towards  defeating 
the  free-silver  movement. 

Mr.  La,w  is  a  member  of  several  fraternal  and  social  organiza- 
tions, having  been  created  a  Mason  in  1867  and  reached  the  thirty- 
second  degree  of  that  order.  He  is  a  member  of  Montjoie  Com- 
mandery  Knights  Templars,  a  life  member  of  the  Oriental  Con- 
sistory, a  member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  and  of  the  Benevolent  and 
Protective  Order  of  Elks,  and  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Chicago  Athletic  Club  and  in  social  circles 
generally  is  in  great  demand  and  much  esteemed. 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  617 

He  is  nn  able,  well  read  attorney,  an  eloquent  advocate,  and  a  re- 
liable counselor.  In  his  professional  advice  be  is  honorable  and 
honest,  consulting  in  every  way  possible  the  interests  of  his  clients, 
and  is  noted  for  the  care  and  attention  he  devotes  to  every  detail 
of  whatever  business  may  be  entrusted  to  him. 


JOHN  MCCARTHY. 


The  following  sketch  will  be  found  specially  interesting,  not 
only  as  showing  the  great  and  important  work  accomplished  by  a 
man  not  yet  forty  years  of  age,  but  also  as  a  brief  record  of  im- 
portant reforms  obtained  in  municipal  affairs  and  of  extensive  pub- 
lic works  completed. 

John  McCarthy  was  born  March  20th,  1857,  at  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana.  His  father,  Patrick  McCarthy,  was  a  native  of  Ireland, 
and  born  there  April  16th,  1816.  He  arrived  in  this  country  in 
1847,  settled  at  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  then  only  a  small  settlement, 
and  there  gained  considerable  reputation  as  a  mechanical  engineer. 
His  wife,  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
County  Cork,  Ireland,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1852,  being 
married  the  following  year  at  Mansfield,  Ohio.  Both  are  still 
living. 

John  McCarthy  was  educated  at  St.  Joseph's  Academy,  Fort 
Wayne,  and  on  leaving  in  June,  1875,  he  became  principal  of 
school  at  Huntington,  Ind.,  with  four  teachers  and  the  charge  of 
nearly  three  hundred  scholars.  Here  he  remained  for  two  years, 
then  accepted  in  June,  1877,  a  position  as  chief  clerk  to  the  Superin- 


618  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE 

tendent  of  the  Pittsburg,  Cincinnati  &  St.  Louis  11.  R.,  in  which 
he  stayed  until  1880,  when  he  became  book-keeper  in  the  wholesale 
department  of  John  Shillito  &  Co.,  Cincinnati.  With  this  firm  he 
remained  until  1883,  when  he  engaged  as  chief  clerk  and  supply 
agent  of  the  New  York,  Chicago  &  St.  Louis  R.  R.  Co.,  a  position  he 
filled  for  eight  years,  and  then  entering  into  business  for  himself, 
engaged  in  mining  and  railroad  operations  in  New  Mexico,  but  mak- 
ing his  headquarters  in  Chicago.  Since  his  coming  to  Chicago  in 
1883,  being  an  ardent  Democrat,  he  was  actively  engaged  in  politics, . 
never,  however,  seeking  office  for  himself,  but  always  working  in 
the  interest  of  his  friends.  He  was  President  of  the  Hyde  Park 
Democratic  organization  from  1883  to  1889,  being  also  its  repre- 
sentative in  Central  Committees  for  two  terms,  and  was  very  prom- 
inently associated  in  the  movement  which  resulted  in  the  annexa- 
tion of  Hyde  Park  to  Chicago. 

Previous  to  the  election  of  Carter  Harrison  in  1893,  Mr.  Mc- 
Carthy was  probably  his  most  active  lieutenant,  being  the  only 
member  of  the  Democratic  Committee  who  espoused  his  cause 
months  before  his  nomination.  After  the  election,  Mr.  Harrison 
appointed  Mr.  McCarthy  Superintendent  of  Streets.  Early  in  his 
administration  he  discovered  that  the  street  contractors  had  not 

* 

been  conforming  for  years  to  the  contracts  and  specifications,  but 
had  been  using  from  twenty  per  cent  to  thirty  per  cent  less  material 
than  the  specifications  called  for,  as  also  that  the  labor  was  not 
being  performed  in  a  workmanlike  manner.  After  a  consultation 
with  the  Mayor,  he  decided  to  investigate  the  work  performed  dur- 
ing the  last  two  years,  with  the  result  that  shortness  in  material 
was  discovered  to  the  amount  of  $300,000,  against  which  reserves  of 
about  the  same  amount  were  retained  by  the  city.  Many  of  the 
contractors  agreed  to  leave  the  matter  to  arbitration,  and  with  the 
result  that  Mr.  McCarthy's  claims  and  the  position  he  had  taken  up 
were  fully  maintained,  and  the  immediate  result  followed  that  all 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  619 

street  construction  at  once  rose  to  a  higher  plane.  For  the  first 
lime  in  municipal  government  in  this  or  any  other  country,  the 
u mid-ground  corporations — those  who  were  given  franchises  to 
tear  up  the  streets  for  the  purpose  of  laying  gas  pipes,  electric,  tele- 
graph, and  telephone  wires,  and  conduits  of  all  kinds,  and  for  such 
purpose  had  torn  up  portions  of  streets,  afterwards  leaving  them 
for  many  years  in  bad  condition — were  compelled  to  repair  the 
s;iiiic  and  entirely  at  their  own  expense.  Maps  and  charts  showing 
the  responsibility  of  each  in  the  various  streets  were  obtained  from 
the  representatives  of  all  the  companies,  who  at  any  time  had  torn 
up  the  streets,  and  these  had  a  meeting  with  the  Mayor  and  Mr. 
McCarthy  for  the  purpose  of  coming  to  some  agreement  which 
would  result  in  replacing  the  pavements.  It  was  then  decided  that 
the  repairs  should  be  made  pro  rata  by  each  of  the  companies  con- 
cerned, and  civil  engineers  were  selected  under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
McCarthy,  and  resulted  in  all  the  down-town  thoroughfares  being 
practically  put  in  good  condition  without  the  slightest  expense  to 
the  city.  During  1893  the  sum  of  ninety  thousand  dollars  was  ex- 
pended, and  in  1894  one  hundred  and  ten  thousand,  leaving  to  suc- 
ceeding administrations  the  balance,  which  was  estimated  to  the 
amount  of  four  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Believing  that  previous 
administrations  were  partly  guilty  in  allowing  such  a  state  of  things 
to  exist,  it  was  considered  but  just  that  the  companies  should  ha.ve 
a  reasonable  time  to  repair  the  damages  of  fifteen  previous  years. 
The  successful  adjustment  of  this  new  departure  was  noticed  and 
approved  by  the  municipal  authorities  in  this  and  other  countries, 
resulting  in  similar  methods  being  adopted  in  many  of  the  leading 
cities. 

Mr.  McCarthy  continued  in  his  position  as  Superintendent  during 
the  regime  of  Mayors  Swift  and  Hopkins,  until  in  November,  1894, 
lie  was  promoted  to  be  Commissioner  of  Public  Works,  the  position 

in  city  government  next  in  responsibility  and  power  to  that  of 
33 


620  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE 

Mayor.  During  bis  brief  occupancy  of  tbe  office,  which  lasted  for 
the  remainder  of  the  term  of  Mayor  Hopkins,  be  inaugurated  nu- 
merous reforms,  more  especially  in  the  special  assessment  bureau. 
Other  notable  works  under  his  administration  were  the  completion 
of  the  four-mile  crib,  which  cost  |409,000,  and  the  Sixty-eighth 
Street  tunnel  and  temporary  crib,  which  cost  $377,385.  There 
must  also  be  included  the  Van  Buren  Bascule  bridge,  the  only  one 
of  its  kind  in  the  world,  and  upon  which  $167,900  was  spent;  the 
completion  of  Wentworth  Avenue  sewer,  and  in  1893,  the  building 
of  142  miles  of  streets,  and  121  miles  in  1894. 

Mr.  McCarthy  is  a  member  of  the  Columbus  and  the  Iroquois 
Clubs,  as  well  as  of  a  number  of  other  organizations.  In  religion 
he  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  a  cultivated  and  well  educated  man  of 
strong  literary  tastes,  although  he  has  been  too  bnsy  in  public 
affairs  and  duties  to  indulge  much  in  any  outside  tastes  and  recrea- 
tions. That  his  past  work  was  well  appreciated  by  his  fellow  citi- 
zens is  unquestionable,  as  is  also  the  fact  that  from  the  promise  of 
his  past  may  be  creditably  anticipated  a  brilliant  and  successful 
future  career. 


JUDGE    SAMUEL   P.   McCONNELL. 


Samuel  P.  McConnell  was  born  July  5th,  1849,  on  a  farm  near 
Springfield,  Illinois.  His  grandfather,  James  McConnell,  was  a 
native  of  Bellelessen,  parish  of  Ballenhaten,  County  Down,  Ireland, 
and  came  to  America  in  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  lo- 
cating in  Connecticut.  Here  he  established  a  manufactory  for 
making  gun  powder,  supplying  the  patriots  of  the  War  of  1812. 
The  latter  at  an  end,  he  sold  out  his  business  and  moved  to  Madison 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  621 

County,  New  York,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  In  1880  he  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  three  miles  south  of 
Springfield,  and  was  a  pioneer  in  the  cultivation  of  the  prairies  of 
this  State  and  a  demonstrator  of  the  unexcelled  richness  of  the 
upland  prairies  of  Illinois.  He  was  also  one  of  the  first  to  bring 
sheep  into  the  State.  A  man  of  great  prominence  in  his  day,  he 
was  a  very  close  and  intimate  friend  of  President  Lincoln  and 
Stephen  Douglas,  more  particularly  the  latter,  who  never  came  to 
Springfield  without  visiting  him.  James  McCounell  died  in  186(5, 
leaving  for  that  time  a  very  large  fortune.  Another  McConnell— 
James — a  direct  ancestor  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  rebelling  Irish  at  the  time  of  "Bloody  Mary,"  and  found 
his  death  in  a  hand-to-hand  encounter  with  Sir  William  Sidney. 
Still  another  was  an  officer  in  the  rebellion  in  which  Lord  Edward 
Fitzgerald  and  noble  Emmet  took  part.  On  the  mother's  side,  also, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  of  well  tried  stock.  His  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Carringtou  Parsons,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  an  old  English  family  who  settled  in  Meriden,  Connecticut, 
in  1680,  and  her  grandfather  commanded  a  battery  of  artillery  in 
the  Revolutionary  War. 

General  John  McConuell,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  Madison  County,  New  York.  When  the  war  broke  out, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  he  had  a  very  large  farm  in  Illinois 
and  also  one  of  the  largest  stocks  of  sheep  in  the  West,  he  still  con- 
sidered it  his  duty  to  enter  the  army.  He  was  given  a  commission 
as  Captain  of  the  Third  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  later  was  made  Colonel 
of  the  Fifth  Illinois  Cavalry.  April  9th,  1865,  he  was  appointed 
Brigadier-General  and  served  until  the  end  of  the  war,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Illinois  and  resumed  farming. 

Samuel  P.  McConuell  attended  the  public  schools  of  Springfield 
in  his  youth,  graduating  at  the  high  school  of  that  place  at  the  age 
of  seventeen,  when  he  entered  Lombard  University  of  Galesburg. 


622  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE 

From  the  latter  he  graduated  in  1871,  receiving  the  degree  of  B.  A., 
and  at  once  took  up  the  study  of  law  with  the  firm  of  historic  repu- 
tation, Stewart,  Edwards  &  Brown,  of  Springfield.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  December,  1872,  and  coming  to  Chicago, 
opened  an  office  and  began  to  practice.  For  some  time  he  was  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Crawford  &  McConnell,  and  later  organized 
the  firm  of  McConnell,  Raymond  &  Rogers.  His  business  pros- 
pered and  he  quickly  obtained  the  reputation  of  a  most  capable  and 
trustworthy  attorney.  In  1882  he  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Circuit 
Court,  and  was  on  the  bench  for  six  years,  during  which  time  he 
tried  a  number  of  noted  cases,  among  which  possibly  the  Cronin 
case  was  the  most  world-wide  in  its  reputation.  He  retired  in  1888 
and  helped  to  form  the  present  firm  of  Tenney,  McConnell  &  Cof- 
feen.  A  large  general  practice  is  done,  and  many  of  the  biggest 
Chicago  enterprises,  corporate  and  private,  are  legally  represented. 

Judge  McConnell  is  a  strong  Democrat  and  has  taken  a  very 
active  part  in  politics  since  he  left  the  bench,  and  was  one  of  the 
prime  movers  in  the  organization  of  the  Iroquois  Club.  Of  the  lat- 
ter he  was  President  in  1895,  in  which  year  also  he  was  President 
of  the  Illinois  State  Silver  Democratic  Convention,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  was  delegate  at  large  to  the  National  Convention. 

He  married,  February  16th,  1876,  Miss  Sarah  Rogers,  daughter 
of  Judge  John  G.  Rogers,  at  one  time  on  the  Circuit  bench  of  Chi- 
cago, and  a  granddaughter  of  Chief  Justice  Crenshaw  of  the  Court 
of  Appeals  of  Kentucky.  They  have  had  four  children,  of  whom, 
with  one  exception,  all  are  living. 

Judge  McConnell  has  won  equal  eminence  both  as  a  consulting 
and  as  a  trial  lawyer.  A  man  of  charming  personality,  possessed 
of  absolute  fidelity  to  every  interest  of  his  clients,  he  bears  that 
honorable  record  which  tells  of  great  personal  and  business  worth. 
Among  a  host  of  friends  he  is  held  in  esteem  and  affectionate  re- 
gard, and  does  honor  to  that  large  section  this  book  endeavors  to 
chronicle,  the  American  Irish  of  Chicago. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  623 


JOHN   F.  NEAGLE. 


John  F.  Neagle,  contractor  and  general  builder,  is  pre-emi- 
nently a  production  of  Chicago  enterprise  and  western  ambition, 
than  whom  no  one  is  more  worthy  of  representation  in  a  work  illus- 
trating the  lives  and  deeds  of  the  city's  leading  American  Irishmen. 
Born  in  this  city  November  7th,  1858,  his  father — whose  biography 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  book — was  Francis  C.  Neagle,  a  native  of 
Ireland,  who  came  to  the  United  States  about  the  year  1845.  For 
aboiit  ten  years  he  worked  at  his  trade,  that  of  a  carpenter,  in  New 
York,  and  then  moved  to  Chicago,  and  progressing  forward  slowly 
but  surely,  until  he  became  one  of  the  largest  builders  and  con- 
tractors of  the  city.  He  died  in  1895,  and  left  a  reputation  as  a 
man  of  business  habits  and  honorable  life,  of  which  every  one  con- 
nected with  him  has  good  reason  to  be  proud,  lie  had  married 
Johanna  Hallaran,  who  survives  him. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  St.  Patrick's  Academy  until 
he  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  when,  being  of  an  ambitious  disposi- 
tion and  feeling  himself  sufficiently  grounded,  he  determined  to  go 
into  business.  It  was  his  desire  to  be  permitted  to  join  his  father 
in  his  building  operations,  but  to  this  the  latter  objected,  but  hap- 
pening at  the  time  to  have  an  unoccupied  store  on  northeast  corner 
Halsted  Street  and  Polk  Street,  he  concluded  to  start  his  young  son 
as  a  grocery  merchant.  This  was  in  1872,  and,  having  purchased 
for  him  a  horse  and  wagon  and  $2,500  worth  of  goods  in  South 
.Water  Street,  he  gave  him  unlimited  credit. 

In  no  way  were  the  father's  expectations  in  regard  to  the  young 
merchant  disappointed,  for  the  latter  at  once  demonstrated  that  lie 
had  ability  far  beyond  what  might  be  expected  from  one  so  young 


624  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE 

iii  years.  The  goods  were  all  bought  by  himself,  and  as  everything 
was  conducted  on  strictly  business  principles,  good  success  of 
course  followed,  and  John  F.  Neagle  retained  until  1884.  For  some 
time  preceding  this  he  had  been  taking  considerable  interest  in 
the  building  operations  of  his  father,  and  generally  assisting  him 
in  making  out  specifications  and  the  figuring  on  contracts,  and  in 
1884  he  became  a  partner. 

Since  then  the  building  firm  of  F.  C.  Neagle  &  Son  has  acquired 
an  enormous  business,  which,  like  this'  great  city  itself,  is  rapidly 
increasing.  For  the  execution  of  important  contracts,  its  facilities 
are  unrivaled,  for  as  to  the  cost  of  material  and  the  requirements 
of  labor,  the  firm  is  so  thoroughly  posted  that  it  is  but  seldom 
underbid,  being  in  a  position  to  prepare  its  estimates  without  the 
usual  heavy  item  of  contingencies,  which  with  others  less  favor- 
ably situated  so  frequently  swell  the  cost  of  estimates. 

This  firm,  which  was  established  by  F.  G.  Neagle  in  1856,  be- 

« 

came  F.  C.  Neagle  &  Son  in  1884,  and  was  incorporated  into  the 
F.  C.  Neagle  &  Son  Company  in  1895,  has  erected  some  of  the  larg- 
est and  finest  buildings  in  the  country,  among  which  might  be 
mentioned  the  Insane  Asylum  at  Woodstock,  McTIenry  County, 
Ills.;  Strauss  Bros.  Bank  Building,  Ligonier,  Tnd. ;  the  Fortune 
Bros.,  Cooke's  and  BreAver  &  Hoffman's  breweries;  Donahue  &  Ilen- 
neberry  Building;  the  Congregational  Church,  Clinton  and  Judd 
streets,  and  a  number  of  other  churches,  warehouses,  halls,  hotels, 
factories,  office  buildings,  stores,  fiats,  residences  and  apartment 
houses.  Among  its  later  achievements  may  be  mentioned  the  large 
apartment  house  for  Russell  Tyson  at  203  and  205  Goethe  Street,  at 
a  cost  of  $75,000,  and  also  the  electric  power  house  at  Garfield  Park 
for  $100,000. 

The  standing  of  Mr.  Neagle  among  his  associates  may  be  gath- 
ered from  the  fact  that  he  has  been  secretary  of  the  Carpenters'  & 
Builders'  Association  during  the  past  six  years,  and  that  in  that 


* 

AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  625 

time  he  has  been  on  a  number  of  occasions  chosen  as  the  arbitrator 
between  various  contractors  and  the  labor  organizations. 

Mr.  John  F.  Neagle  is  a  member  of  the  old  West  Side  Social 
Club,  the  oldest  in  the  city,  dating  as  far  back  as  1866.  He  has 
traveled  extensively  throughout  the  United  States,  and  is  a  man  of 
broad  information  and  very  liberal  ideas. 

A  man  of  fine  appearance,  courteous  manner  and  generous  in 
his  disposition,  he  has  succeeded  in  winning  for  himself  a  high 
place  in  the  community,  and  possesses  a  wide  circle  of  friends,  who 
respect  and  esteem  him  for  his  personal  as  well  as  for  his  high 
business  qualifications. 


BERNARD   DOLAN. 

Though  comparatively  a  late  comer  into  the  legal  world  of  Chi- 
cago life,  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  who  possesses  the 
highest  qualifications  for  his  profession  in  a  quick  grasp  of  salient 
points,  an  impressive  manner,  and  strong  influence  over  a  jury,  as 
well  as  considerable  oratorical  gifts,  has  already  achieved  promi- 
nence and  popularity. 

Bernard  Dolan  was  born  August  18th,  1858,  in  Iowa,  his 
parents,  both  of  Avhom  were  natives  of  the  West  of  Ireland,  having 
come  to  this  country  in  1850  and  settled  in  Scott  County.  His 
education  was  received  in  the  public  schools  of  the  State,  and  later 
he  studied  law  in  Lincoln,  Neb.,  with  L.  C.  Burr,  and  in  1883  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar. 

For  five  years  he  remained  in  the  United  States  Attorney's 
office  in  Lincoln,  then  removing  to  Omaha,  and  practicing  on  his 
own  account  for  four  years.  November,  1892,  he  decided  to  seek 


626  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

larger  opportunities,  and  coming  to  Chicago  went  into  business  for 
himself.  His  success  was  immediate  and  considerable,  and  he  has 
now  a  large  general  practice. 

Mr.  Dolan  was  married  in  1891  at  Omaha,  to  Miss  Ella  Reagan,  a 
young  lady  who  is  also  of  Irish  extraction. 

Formerly  strongly  attached  to  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party,  Mr.  Dolan  is  now  in  his  political  views  a  Bimetallist.  He 
is  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Laud  League. 


CHARLES   CHASE   McCLAUGHRY. 

Charles  Chase  McClaughry  was  born  in  Carthage,  Hancock 
County,  Illinois,  April  7th,  1863.  His  descent  is  from  rugged  old 
Scotch-Irish  stock,  and  many  of  his  ancestors  have  distinguished 
themselves  in  the  world.  Originally  from  Scotland,  the  family 
settled  in  the  early  part  of  last  century  in  Clonbrouey  Parish, 
County  of  Longford,  Ireland.  One,  Andrew  by  name,  moved  to 
America  in  1765  and  fought  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  while  the 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Major  R.  W.  McClaughry,  has 
made  a  big  reputation  as  a  reformer  of  criminals.  Many  responsi- 
ble positions  have  been  held  by  him,  being  at  one  time  Chief  of  the 
Chicago  police  force  and  now  holding  the  position  of  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Illinois  State  Reformatory  at  Pontiac.  Major  R.  W. 
McClaughry  married  Elizabeth,  a  daughter  of  James  G.  Madden  of 
Monmouth,  Ills.,  whose  father,  Ben  Warren  Madden,  was  also  a 
Revolutionary  soldier.  The  latter's  father,  another  Ben  Warren 
Madden,  was  a  Scotch-Irishman  who  had  come  to  America  from  the 
north  of  Ireland  and  settled  in  the  District  of  Columbia. 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  627 

Charles  C.  McClaughry  graduated  from  the  classical  course  of 
Kuox  College,  (Jalesburg,  Ills.,  in  1885,  and  immediately  went  into 
the  works  of  the  Illinois  Steel  Co.  With  this  company  he  remained 
until  1889,  thoroughly  mastering  the  trade  of  a  machinist,  and  then 
for  a  time  went  into  the  employ  of  E.  R.  Braiuard  &  Co.,  of  Joliet. 
May,  1890,  he  was  offered  the  position  of  Chief  Engineer  at  the 
Illinois  State  Prison  at  Joliet,  which  he  accepted  and  held  until 
1892.  May  of  that  year  the  position  of  Deputy  Superintendent  of 
the  Alleghauy  County,  Pennsyhrania,  Work  House  was  tendered 
him  and  accepted.  This  he  held  until  July,  1893,  when  he  re- 
signed for  a  similar  post  at  the  Chicago  House  of  Correction,  Jan- 
uary, 1894,  where  he  still  remains,  bearing  the  reputation  of  an 
efficient  officer  and  an  honest,  fearless  gentleman. 

In  1888  Mr.  McClaughry  was  united  in  marriage  to  Helen  A. 
Demmond,  daughter  of  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Will  County.  Their 
family  consists  of  three  children. 

In  politics  he  is  a  Republican  and  in  religion  a  Presbyterian. 


NICHOLAS   HUNT. 


'Inspector  Nicholas  Hunt,  commanding  the  Second  Division  of 
the  Chicago  Police  Force,  was  born  at  Waterford,  Ireland,  June  3d, 
1848.  His  parents,  both  of  whom  died  in  1882,  were  Michael  and 
Margaret  (Pursell)  Hunt,  the  first  named  being  steward  for  a 
landed  proprietor  there.  Good  honest  people,  knowing  little  and 
caring  nothing  for  the  delights  of  large  cities,  they  had  gained  by 
their  exemplary  lives  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  their  neighbors. 


628  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OP   THE 

Nicholas  Hunt  cauie  to  America  first  when  he  was  thirteen 
years  of  age  on  a  visit  to  one  of  his  brothers,  a  grocer  and  Alderman 
at  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  he  did  not  return  to  Ireland.  The  public  schools 
of  that  city  were  attended  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  when 
he  went  to  work  on  a  farm  near  Troy.  He  was  twenty-one  years 
of  age  when  he  came  to  Chicago,  and  a  position  was  at  once  secured 
as  foreman  for  Beattle  &  Barker,  contractors,  and  this  he  retained 
until  September  15th,  1871,  when  he  joined  the  Hyde  Park  Police 
Force.  For  upwards  of  nine  years  he  walked  a  beat,  and  then  re- 
ceived promotion  to  Lieutenant.  Having  served  three  years  in 
that  position,  he  was  made  Captain  of  the  same  district  in  1884; 
when  Hyde  Park  was  annexed  to  Chicago  in  1889,  his  section  was 
made  the  Second  Police  Division,  and  Captain  Hunt  of  Hyde  Park 
became  Inspector  Hunt  of  the  City  of  Chicago. 

Among  the  notable  murder  cases  with  which  Inspector  Hunt 
has  been  connected  may  be  recalled  the  capture  in  1875  of  Jim 
Allen,  a  desperate  criminal;  three  years  later  the  running  down 
of  George  Purdy  for  the  killing  of  Samuel  Reninger;  then  followed 
the  Nicole  Cena,  the  Jennie  McGarvery,  the  Eva  Mitchell,  and  the 
recent  Hiawatha  flats  horror,  all  of  which  were  tracked  out  and 
unraveled  by  this  indefatigable  western  Vidocq.  Fie  also  took  a 
prominent  part  in  the  great  strike  of  1894,  where  he  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  First  and  Second  Regiments,  with  Colonels  Wheeler 
and  Moulton  and  General  Russell,  the  Brigade  Commander,  and 
in  connection  therewith  was  able  to  do  some  splendid  work  in 
crushing  the  lawlessness  then  prevalent  in  the  southern  portion  of 
the  city. 

Married  to  Miss  Johanna  Crimmins  of  Chicago  in  1872,  he  is  the 
father  of  an  interesting  family,  of  whom  his  eldest  son,  M.  E.  Hunt, 
will  soon  be  admitted  to  the  bar,  while  his  two  daughters.  Anna  and 
Nellie,  are  completing  their  education  at  the  institution  of  St. 
Mary's,  Notre  Dame,  Ind. 

The  Inspector  is  a  member  of  the  Sheridan  Club,  Hyde  Park 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  629 

Council  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters 
and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

In  his  religions  views  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a  regular  at- 
tendant of  St.  Thomas'  Church. 

Inspector  Hunt  is  a  man  of  fine  appearance,  while  in  manner  is 
so  absolutely  unassuming  that  if  he  errs  at  all  it  is  on  the  side  of 
modesty.  His  career  in  the  police  department  has  been  a  very  bril- 
liant one,  and  he  has  unquestionably  well  deserved  every  reward 
and  honor  that  has  been  given  him.  Sociable  in  his  character, 
genial  in  his  disposition,  there  is  no  man  in  Chicago  who  stands 
higher  in  the  estimation  of  the  community  at  large,  either  as  citizen 
or  member  of  the  Chicago  police  service,  than  Inspector  Nicholas 
Hunt. 


WILLIAM  K.  SULLIVAN. 

Mr.  Sullivan  was  born  November  10,  1843,  in  the  city  of  Water- 
ford,  in  the  South  of  Ireland.  He  was  strictly  brought  up  by  his 
parents,  his  father  an  Episcopalian  and  his  mother  a  Wesleyau 
Methodist,  and  both  of  the  strongest  religious  principles. 

Young  Sullivan  found  his  earliest  education  in  the  Model 
Training  School  of  Dublin.  From  thence  he  went  to  a  school  in 
Donegal,  about  seven  miles  from  Malin  Head.  He  was  an  adven- 
turous youth,  and  the  salt  air  of  the  ocean  always  possessed  for 
him  a  peculiar  fascination.  The  United  States  was  at  that  time, 
perhaps  even  more  than  it  is  now,  the  goal  both  of  the  oppressed 
and  the  unrestful.  Sullivan  belonged  to  the  latter  category;  the 
idea  of  journeying  to  the  New  World,  its  free  and  broader  condi- 
tions and  larger  fields  for  action,  was  no  sooner  conceived  than 


630  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE 

he  determined  to  set  out  without  delay.  In  less  than  a  week, 
having  wished  his  parents  good-bye,  he  was  on'  the  seas,  bound 
for  New  York.  Arrived  at  the  Eastern  metropolis,  where  he 
found  many  influential  and  willing  friends,  he  was  urged  to  ac- 
cept a  situation  and  take  up  with  trading  pursuits.  To  these, 
W.  K.  Sullivan  had  little  or  no  inclination,  and  consequently  after 
remaining  a  short  time  in  New  York  he  came  West  and  settled 
at  Aurora,  Illinois.  Here  he  taught  school  in  both  Kane  and 
Kendall  counties  with  considerable  success. 

Then  occurred  the  eventful  period  of  the  war.  A  meeting  was 
called  at,  Aurora  for  the  purpose  of  enlisting  volunteers,  and  the 
large  number  (for  so  small  a  town)  of  two  thousand  persons  at- 
tended. Only  two  men,  however,  signed  the  enlistment  roll,  and 
of  these  Mr.  Sullivan  was  one,  for  all  the  others  had  been  promised 
positions  as  officers.  He  was  at  once  offered  to  be  made  sergeant, 
and  was  desired  to  repair  to  Elgin  barracks,  where  the  regiment 
to  which  his  company  was  attached  had  been  ordered  to  assemble. 
Here  there  was  an  inspection  by  the  army  surgeon,  and  Mr.  Sulli- 
van, one  of  whose  eyes  had  been  injured  when  a  boy  by  a  blow 
from  a  bat,  had  some  difficulty  in  passing  the  necessary  examina- 
tion; the  surgeon  doubting  his  ability  to  shoot.  He  was  accepted, 
however,  and  went  to  the  front,  but  his  term  of  service  was  short, 
and,  having  saved  a  little  money,  he  came  at  once  to  Chicago. 

The  oil  excitement  in  West  Virginia,  which  was  at  this  time 
in  full  progress,  led  a  great  number  of  people  towards  that  region 
in  search  of  fortune.  Mr.  Sullivan,  ever  roving  and  adventurous 
in  disposition,  was  among  those,  and  also  among  the  majority  in 
the  result,  for  the  oil  bubble  quickly  burst  and  most  of  the  ad- 
venturers were  ruined.  Necessity  drove  him  to  try  running  a 
steam  engine,  working  in  the  wells,  an  employment  which  netted 
him  |4 — six  hours  working  day,  and  in  which  he  remained  a  short 
time. 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  631 

Mr.  Sullivan  managed  to  save  sufficient  to  take  him  to  New- 
York  and  still  leave  him  something  in  hand.  No  sooner  had  he 
arrived  there,  however,  than  he  received  a  cablegram  summoning 
him  immediately  to  Ireland,  if  he  desired  to  see  his  mother  again 
in  life.  He  arrived  too  late,  however,  and  after  a  short  stay  in 
the  old  land,  during  which  he  traveled  over  most  portions  of  it, 
he  returned  to  New  York.  Arrived  there,  he  decided  upon  the 
career  in  which  his  chief  reputation  has  been  made.  Mr.  D. 
Beach  was  at  that  time  publishing  the  New  York  Sun,  and  to  him 
young  Sullivan  applied  for  and  obtained  a  situation  as  reporter. 
Mr.  Dana  shortly  afterwards  purchased  the  Sun,  and  of  the  two 
men  on  the  old  staff  he  took  over  on  his  remodeled  paper,  W.  K. 
Sullivan  was  one.  New  York  life  was  not,  however,  to  his  liking, 
and  with  a  strong  letter  of  introduction  from  Horace  Greeley  to 
Horace  White,  who  was  then  editing  the  Chicago  Tribune,  he  re- 
turned to  this  city.  It  was  effectual  in  obtaining  him  employ- 
ment, and  with  that  paper  he  remained  for  several  years,  working 
immediately  under  that  very  promising  journalist,  Sam  Medill,  a 
brother  of  Joseph  Medill,  who  died1  universally  regretted  a  few 
years  ago. 

Mr.  Sullivan  is  full  of  interesting  reminiscences  of  early  Chi- 
cago life,  and  relates  with  considerable  power  and  much  humor 
incidents  in  his  career  twenty -five  years  ago.  In  the  great  fire, 
with  hundreds  of  others,  he  was  a  victim  and  lost  all  his  property, 
including  the  accumulated  savings  of  years,  and  upon  which  he 
intended  to  subsist  until  he  was  able  to  make  an  income  for  him- 
self as  a  lawyer,  having  been  previously  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
New  York  and  Illinois.  For  six  months  preceding  the  fire  he  had 
been  studying  in  the  law  office  of  Doolittle  &  Norton,  with  the  in- 
tention of  becoming  a  member  of  the  bar.  He  was  consequently 
forced  to  return  to  journalism,  and  acted  as  correspondent  for  the 
Tribune  during  the  latter  sessions  of  the  Twenty-seventh  General 


632  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

Assembly,  and  also  of  the  twenty-eighth.  Ill  1872,  during  the 
Greeley  campaign,  as  correspondent  for  the  Tribune,  he  traveled 
through  Illinois,  Indiana  and  Ohio,  with  orders  from  Editor 
White  to  report  everything  that  happened,  faithfully  and  exactly. 
Three  months  were  spent  in  campaign  travel,  during  which  he 
was  brought  into  close  association  with  Governqr  O.  P.  Norton  of 
Indiana,  Senator  Dan  Voorhees,  Carl  Schurz  and  other  leading 
men  on  both  sides.  He  was  also  with  Horace  Greeley  on  his  tour 
through  the  West. 

Soon  afterwards  he  became  connected  with  the  Chicago  Even- 
ing Journal,  and  was  for  many  years  associated  with  Lieutenant 
Governor  Charles  L.  Wilson  and  John  A.  Wilson. 

Mr.  Sullivan  claims  with  considerable  pride  that  during  his 
newspaper  career  and  since  the  nomination  for  President  of  Hora- 
tio Seymour  in  the  city  of  New  York,  he  has  attended  every  Be- 
publican  and  Democratic  national  convention,  with  the  exception 
of  one  in  1892,  when  he  was  out  of  the  country.  He  has  also 
missed  few  of  the  Democratic  conventions  held  during  the  last 
twenty  years. 

In  politics  Mr.  Sullivan  is  necessarily  a  well  known  figure,  hav- 
ing been  three  times  elected  and  twice  appointed  to  office.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Twenty-seventh  General  Assembly  in  1890, 
and  was  twice  chosen  from  a  north  side  district  of  the  city.  His 
first  service  was  under  the  new  constitution,  and  associated  with 
him  in  the  House  were  several  who  were  then  eminent  and  promi- 
nent, or  who  have  since  become  so. 

Mr.  Sullivan  has  always  been  a  considerable  figure  in  local 
politics.  Mayor  Colvin  appointed  him  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education,  upon  which  he  served  three  years,  the  two  latter  as 
President.  Associated  with  him  were  the  late  Perry  II.  Smith, 
Philip  A.  Hoyne,  Christopher  Hotz,  Professor  Rodney  Welch  and 
the  late  George  C.  Clark.  He  was  then  offered  reappointment  by 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  633 

Mayor  Heath,  but  declined,  feeling  that  he  had  borne  sufficiently 
the  burdens  of  a  position  for  which  no  thanks  were  given,  and  he 
had  been  most  freely  criticised  and  considerably  abused. 

The  appointment  of  consul  to  the  Bermudas,  under  President 
Harrison,  was  given  to  Mr.  Sullivan  in  1890. 

Mr.  Sullivan  married,  in  1894,  Miss  Amelia  Shackelford,  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  Mrs.  General  Julius  White.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren: Heleoa  Amelia,  who  is  now  a  charming  young  lady  of  eight- 
een, and  William  Shackelford,  a  bright  boy  of  thirteen. 


PATRICK  JOSEPH   SEXTON. 


Patrick  Joseph  Sexton  was  born  in  1847  on  a  farm  in  County 
Cavan,  Ireland,  and  with  his  parents,  John  and  Susan  (O'Dowd) 
Sexton,  came  to  America  in  1850,  settling  in  Cincinnati,  where 
the  father  died  in  1863. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  public  schools  of  Cin- 
cinnati until  he  was  fourteen  years  old,  when  he  apprenticed  him- 
self to  a  builder  of  that  city.  Having  served  the  regulation  three 
years'  term,  during  which  time  he  attended  the  night  sessions  in 
the  public  schools  and  also  took  a  course  in  architectural  draw- 
ing in  the  Ohio  Mechanics'  Institute,  he  moved  to  Nashville,  Tenn., 
in  1865.  Here  he  embarked  in  business  on  his  own  account  as  a 
contractor  and  builder,  and  remained  there  until  the  great  Chi- 
cago fire  of  1871,  when,  comprehending  the  opportunity,  he  moved 
to  Chicago  and  entered  the  field  as  a  builder.  A  prominent  part 
was  taken  by  him  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  city,  among  the  most 


634  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

important  works  with  which  he  has  been  identified  being  the 
Cook  County  Hospital,  the  Cook  County  Court  House,  the  City 
1  lall,  the  World's  Fair,  the  new  Drainage  Channel,  and  a  number 
of  other  large  public  and  private  works. 

Mr.  Sexton  is  the  President  and  owns  a  controlling  interest  in 
the  Chicago  Brick  Company,  one  of  the  largest  manufacturers  of 
brick  engaged  in  the  business.  He  is  also  the  owner  of  a  large 
amount  of  property  in  and  about  Chicago,  among  his  important 
holdings  being  the  vestibule  block  on  Van  Buren  Street  and  the 
St.  Benedict  apartment  house  on  the  North  Side,  the  latter  being 
one  of  the  largest  in  the  city.  His  home  is  at  1340  Michigan  Ave- 
nue, and  he  also  possesses  a  beautiful  summer  home  in  Waukegan 
known  as  Fairoaks,  overlooking  the  Lake  on  Sheridan  Road,  it 
being  an  ideal  summer  retreat  and  containing  ten  acres  of  ground. 


HON.  JOHN   P.   HOPKINS. 


A  native  of  Buffalo,  New  York,  John  P.  Hopkins  was  born  on 
the  29th  of  October,  1858,  and  is  the  seventh  in  a  family  of  twelve 
children.  His  parents  were  John  and  Mary  (Flynn)  Hopkins.  His 
primary  education  was  received  in  the  public  and  private  schools  of 
his  native  city,  and  he  then  entered  St.  Joseph's  College,  which  was 
left  in  the  year  1871.  Absolutely  without  capital  with  which  to 
make  a  start  in  a  business  career,  but  still  possessed  of  a  commend- 
able ambition  and  resolve  to  win  success,  he  immediately  set  to 
work.  For  two  and  a  half  years  he  served  an  apprenticeship  to  the 
David  Bell  Company  of  Buffalo,  learning  the  machinist's  trade,  and 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  635 

from  there  he  transferred  his  energies  to  the  Evans  Elevator  Com- 
pany, with  which  he  continued  for  two  years,  serving  in  the  capac- 
ity of  weigh-master.  It  was  in  December,  1880,  that  Mr.  Hopkins' 
connection  with  Chicago  began,  and  in  March  following  he  secured 
a  position  as  requisition  clerk  in  the  store  rooms  of  the  Pullman 
Palace  Car  Company.  With  immense  corporations  of  this  char- 
acter, promotion  is  obtained  only  through  ability  and  absolute  in- 
tegrity, and  after  two  months  Mr.  Hopkins  was  advanced  to  the 
position  of  time  keeper.  Three  months  after  he  Avas  made  general 
time  keeper,  and  in  another  three  mouths  he  became  paymaster, 
which  position  he  held  until  September,  1888,  when  he  was  com- 
pelled to  resign  on  account  of  other  pressing  duties.  In  1885  he 
established  a  store  in  the  Arcade.  The  business  was  organized 
under  the  name  of  the  Arcade  Trading  Company,  with  a  capital 
stock  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  Mr.  Hopkins  was  elected  its  sec- 
retary and  treasurer.  Since  that  time  the  capital  has  been  in- 
creased to  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  and  eight  large  stores  are  now 
conducted  under  the  name  of  the  Secord  &  Hopkins  Company. 
The  business  has  been  conducted  on  systematic,  methodical  princi- 
ples, and  an  idea  of  the  success  which  has  attended  the  enterprise 
is  indicated  by  the  greatly  increased  facilities  now  offered. 

It  is  frequently  said  that  a  good  politician  cannot  be  a  good 
business  man,  but  Mr.  Hopkins  is  a  striking  contradiction  to  this 
idea,  for  he  is  equally  prominent  in  both  characters.  With  the 
Democratic  party  in  this  city,  his  connection  has  been  one  of  several 
years,  and  he  has  made  his  way  to  the  very  foremost  ranks  of  De- 
mocracy in  Cook  County.  It  was  under  his  leadership  and  organiza- 
tion that,  the  annexation  movement  and  necessary  campaign  was 
conducted,  which  resulted  in  the  annexation  to  the  City  of  Chicago 
of  the  towns  of  Hyde  Park,  Lake,  Cicero,  Jefferson  and  Lake  View, 

and  a  consequent  increase  in  the  area  of  the  city  of  one  hundred  and 

*t 

fifty  square  miles,  with  an   addition  to  the  population  of  265,000 

34 


636  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OP    THE 

people.  This  grand  result  was  largely  accomplished  through  the 
earnest  and  untiring  efforts  of  the  Mayor,  who  acted  as  chairman 
of  the  annexation  committee. 

Mr.  Hopkins  was  chairman  of  the  Democratic  campaign  com- 
mittee in  1890, 1891  and  1892,  and  in  the  last  named  year  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  national  convention,  and  was  assistant  sergeant-at-arms 
iu  that  assembly.  He  was  also  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Cook 
County  Democratic  Club,  and  for  four  years  served  as  its  president. 
As  school  treasurer,  and  in  various  other  ways,  he  has  been  promi- 
nently connected  with  official  interests.  When  the  death  of  Hon. 
Carter  Harrison  left  the  mayoralty  chair  vacant,  he  came  before 
the  people  as  a  candidate  for  the  office  on  the  Democratic  ticket 
and  won  the  election,  becoming  Chicago's  chief  magistrate.  His 
connection  with  political  affairs  had  hitherto  been  of  rather  a  quiet 
nature,  but  the  leaders  of  the  Democracy  had  come  to  recognize 
his  intrinsic  worth  and  the  ability  which  would  enable  him  to 
control  the  destinies  of  the  second  city  of  the  Union. 

Mr.  Hopkins  is  an  honored  and  popular  member  of  the  following 
social  clubs:  The  Iroquois,  Columbus,  Sunset,  Waubansee,  the  Jef- 
ferson Association,  the  Iloseland,  the  Pullman  Athletic,  the  Chicago 
Athletic  and  the  Pullman  Cricket  Clubs.  He  was  also  one  of  the 
organizers  and  a  leading  member  of  both  the  Sheridan  and  the 
Summer  Clubs.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United 
Workmen,  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  the  Catholic  Benevo- 
lent Association,  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  various  others.  He  is 
also  colonel  on  the  Governor's  staff.  No  matter  in  what  position, 
business  or  social,  John  P.  Hopkins  is  an  affable,  genial  gentleman, 
whose  friends  are  legion,  and  who  is  honored  and  esteemed  both  for 
his  many  virtues  and  great  genuine  worth.  As  the  record  of  a 
young  man,  his  career  is  one  of  which  he  may  be  justly  proud.  Suc- 
cess is  not  measured  by  the  heights  which  one  may  chance  to  oc- 
cupy, but  by  the  distance  between  the  starting  point  and  the 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  637 

altitude  reached.  This  being  considered,  John  P.  Hopkins  can 
point  to  a  brilliant  success  attained,  but  which  is  only  a  just  re- 
ward for  meritorious  and  honorable  effort,  commanding  the  respect 
and  admiration  of  every  American,  whether  politically  opposed  to 
hi  in  or  otherwise. 


MICHAEL  JOSEPH  KELLY. 

Michael  Joseph  Kelly  was  born  on  the  Hudson  Itiver,  in  Glen 
Falls,  Warren  County,  N.  Y.,  September  3rd,  1851.  His  father  was 
John  Kelly,  and  his  mother,  Mary  (liiordau)  Kelly,  both  born  at 
that  most  beautiful  of  all  spots,  the  Lakes  of  Killarney,  Ireland. 
The  father,  in  Ireland,  was  an  unrelenting  and  aggressive  Fenian, 
and  on  that  account  was  compelled  to  leave  the  country  with  his 
wife.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1848  and  settled  at  Glen 
Falls,  in  the  State  of  New  York.  On  his  arrival,  he  engaged  in 
rtiilrond  contracting  until  1859,  when  with  his  family  he  moved  to 
Springlield,  111.,  where  he  stayed  three  years,  then  moving  to 
Chicago. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  public  schools  of  Chi- 
cago until  he  was  sixteen,  when  he  felt  that  he  should  do  something 
toward  starting  in  life.  lie  secured  a  position  with  the  firm  of 
Adams  &  Westlake — then,  as  now,  the  large  railroad  supply  manu- 
facturers— as  apprentice  in  their  metal  spinning  department,  and 
remained  with  this  firm  for  twenty-seven  years.  In  this  time,  he 
became,  of  course,  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  business,  and 
Avas  promoted  from  time  to  time  until  when  he  resigned  in  1892,  he 
held  the  very  responsible  position  of  superintendent  in  charge  of 
the  metal  department.  He  gave  it  up  to  accept  the  chief  clerkship 
of  the  personal  department  of  the  County  Treasurer. 


638  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF   THE 

* 
Mr.  Kelly  has  always  been  a  strong  Democrat,  and  has  very 

actively  interested  himself  in  political  affairs.  He  received  the 
nomination,  in  1893,  for  County  Commissioner,  and  was  elected, 
holding  the  office  for  one  term,  when  he  was  appointed  chief  clerk 
in  the  permit  department  of  the  water  office  by  Mayor  Hopkins. 
Tliis  position  he  held  for  nine  months,  when  he  retired  to  take  a 
much  needed  rest,  and  spent  his  time  in  traveling  all  over  the  South 
and  West. 

Of  very  progressive  character,  Mr.  Kelly  takes  a  great  interest 
in  Irishmen  and  in  all  Irish  affairs.  He  was  one  of  the  chief  organ- 
izers of  the  Irish  Labor  Bureau,  which  was  established  in  the  fall 
of  1895,  with  the  purpose  of  securing  employment  for  those  of  Irish 
blood,  and  which  has  been  attended  with  great  success. 

Mr.  Kelly  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
Hibernians,  and  Chief  Ranger  of  Court  No.  46  of  the  Foresters.  He 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Cook  County  Marching  Club,  and  was  hon- 
ored with  the  position  of  Grand  Marshal  of  the  parade  on  St.  Pat- 
rick's Day  in  1894. 


HENRY  J.   FITZGERALD. 

Henry  J.  Fitzgerald  was  born  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  October  8th, 
1853,  and  is  the  sou  of  Francis  and  Margaret  (Egan)  Fitzgerald. 
Of  his  parents,  his  father  was  born  in  Kilkenny,  Ireland,  where  he 
received  but  a  limited  education,  and  when  quite  young  was  ap- 
prenticed to  the  shoemaker's  trade.  In  1842  he  came  to  America, 
where  he  finished  learning  his  trade,  and  immediately  established 
himself  in  Milwaukee.  In  that  city  he  has  since  resided,  and  is  for 
his  years  a  man  extremely  well  preserved. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  639 

What  of  educational  advantages  Henry  J.  Fitzgerald  managed 
to  receive  were  obtaiued  in  St.  Gall's  Jesuit  Academy  of  Milwau- 
kee, and  he  was  a  mere  boy  when  he  secured  a  position  in  an  office 
and  there  obtained  an  insight  into  clerical  work.  In  1875  he  en- 
tered the  employ  of  Komadka  Urns.,  trunk  manufacturers,  and  be- 
ginning in  a  humble  capacity,  steadily  grew  in  favor  with  his  em- 
ployers until  in  1882,  when  he  resigned  his  position  and  organized 
the  firm  of  Abel,  Uoch  &  Fitzgerald,  in  the  same  line  of  business. 
So  it  continued  until  1892,  when  Mr.  Fitzgerald  came  to  Chicago 
and  purchased  the  trunk  manufacturing  business  of  Vogler  & 
Geudtner,  with  a  factory  at  407-11  AY  ells  street,  with  offices  located 
on  Madison  street.  This  firm  was  one  of  the  oldest  in  Chicago, 
having  been  established  in  I860.  Under  Mr.  Fitzgerald's  careful 
and  thorough  superintendence  the  business  grew  rapidly,  and  in 
18!)4  it  became  necessary  to  secure  larger  office  quarters,  and  a 
suitable  location  was  found  at  24549  Jackson  Street.  Mr.  Fitz- 
gerald carries  on  the  business  under  the  name  of  the  Fitzgerald 
Trunk  Company,  manufacturers  of  trunks,  traveling  bags,  tele- 
scopes, etc.,  and  is  now  one  of  the  largest  concerns  of  the  kind  in  the 
country. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  served  ten  years  in  an  Irish  military 
company  in  Milwaukee,  known  a.s  the  Sheridan  Guards.  In  his 
religious  views  he  is  a  Koman  Catholic,  and  in  his  politics  he  is  a 
Democrat. 

Mr.  Fitzgerald  was  married  May  Kith,  1888,  to  Miss  Mary  Cogan, 
daughter  of  James  and  Honera  Cogan  of  the  County  Wicklow,  and 
to  them  seven  children  have  been  born — Gilbert  (deceased),  Mar- 
garet, Sarah,  (lenildine  (deceased),  Loretta  (deceased),  Florence 
and  Frances. 

Of  an  extremely  retiring  disposition,  Mr.  Fitzgerald  seeks 
neither  publicity  nor  notoriety.  He  is  a  thorough  man  of  business, 
and  his  name  is  absolutely  synonymous  with  uprightness  and 


640  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 


honor,  (jrenerous  and  liberal,  every  worthy  appeal  finds  in  him 
ready  response,  and  esteemed  and  respected  by  his  business  asso- 
ciates, honored  and  revered  by  a  host  of  friends,  Mr.  Ileury  J.  Fitz- 
gerald is  a  very  true  type  of  the  American  Irishman. 


JOHN   SEXTON. 


John  Sexton  was  born  in  Dnndas,  Ontario,  Canada,  June  29th, 
1858,  his  parents  being  Michael  and  Ellen  (O'Connor)  Sexton. 
The  father  came  from  County  Clare,  Ireland,  to  Canada  in  1849, 
and  at  once  engaged  in  railroad  work.  He  died  in  1879.  His  wife 
was  a  native  of  County  Kerry,  Ireland,  and  she  died  in  the  year 
1873.  The  family  moved  to  Niagara  Falls,  Ont.,  in  1806,  where  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  parish  school  until  he  was 
thirteen  years  of  age,  when  he  secured  employment  with  a  rail- 
road, which,  having  retained  for  a  time,  he  resigned  to  accept  a 
better  position  in  a  store,  remaining  in  the  latter  occupation  for 
four  years.  In  1877,  however,  he  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
Chicago  was  the  fittest  place  for  a  young  man  of  ability,  integrity 
and  honorable  enterprise,  and  as  with  him  to  think  was  to  act, 
he  at  once  set  out  for  this  city,  securing  employment  immediately 
in  the  tea  business  as  a  salesman  and  remaining  in  that  capacity 
four  years,  part  of  the  time  being  spent  on  the  road  in  the  position 
of  traveling  salesman.  In  1884,  having  by  strict  frugality  accu- 
mulated some  money,  and  having  thoroughly  acquainted  him- 
self with  the  tea  and  coffee  trade,  he  determined  to  embark  in 
business  on  his  own  account.  Associating  himself  with  a  Mr, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  641 

Hitchcock,  under  the  firm  name  of  Hitchcock  &  Sexton,  a  start 
was  made,  and  the  firm  was  in  existence  three  years,  when  Mr. 
Sexton  bought  out  his  partner  and  has  since  conducted  the  busi- 
ness alone  under  the  name  of  John  Sexton  &  Co.  Launched  as  a 
coffee  and  tea  store  in  a  small  way,  the  business  of  the  firm,  owing 
to  the  business  principles  and  honest  methods  used,  prospered  and 
increased  until  181)0,  when  a  full  line  of  groceries  was  added,  and 
the  business  continued  to  increase  until  at  the  present  time  sales 
average  $500,000  a  year.  A  specialty  is  made  by  the  firm  of  sup- 
plying hotels,  clubs,  public  institutions,  vessels  and  dining  cars 
with  groceries,  and  a  large  wholesale  business  is  also  done,  in  ad- 
dition to  considerable  out-of-town  mail  order  trade. 

Mr.  Sexton  was  married  in  1886  to  Annie  Bartelmanu  of  Chi- 
cago, and  they  have  a  family  of  five  children.  In  religious  mat- 
ters he  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  belongs  to  the  congregation  of 
the  Cathedral  of  the  Holy  Name;  while  in  politics  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat. He  is  a  member  of  the  Columbus  Club. 


JOHN   M.  CARROLL. 


Very  prominently  identified  with  the  prosperous  dry  goods 
merchants  of  Northwest  Chicago  is  the  man  whose  name  heads 
this  sketch. 

John  M.  Carroll  was  born  in  1845  in  County  Tipperary,  in  the 
village  schools  of  which  his  primary  education  was  received,  and 
afterwards  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  merchant  in  the  town  of  Clon- 
mel  to  learn,  the  dry  goods  business. 

Having  reached  his  majority,  he  came  to  the  conclusion  that 


642  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

the  United  States  offered  a  better  field  of  opportunities  to  a  man 
of  business  abilities  aud  energetic  determination  to  succeed  in  the 
world.  In  1867  he  came  to  this  city  and  made  a  start  for  him  sell' 
on  the  North  Side.  His  efforts  met  with  success,  and  he  has  been 
enabled  to  build  up  a  large  and  prosperous  business. 

Mr.  Carroll  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  but  possesses  no  religious 
bigotry.  In  his  political  views  he  has  always  affiliated  Avith  the 
Republican  party,  and  in  1891  served  for  a  term  as  County  Com- 
missioner. 

Liberal  in  his  ideas,  generous  in  his  disposition,  clear-minded 
and  vigorous  iu  his  policy,  Mr.  Carroll  is  a  man  whom  to  know  is 
to  respect. 


CHARLES  FFRENCH. 


The  Ffrenclies  of  Galway  have  been  for  too  many  centuries  iden- 
tified with  the  national  fortunes  of  the  beautiful  green  isle,  have 
suffered  too  greatly,  both  financially  and  iu  the  sacrifice  of  their 
lives,  for  any  descendant  to  need  introduction  in  an  Irish  assembly. 
The  family  is  noted  as  one  of  the  fourteen  ancient  tribes  of  Galway, 
ii  term  which,  applied  in  ridicule  by  the  officers  of  Cromwell  because 
they  refused  any  friendly  intercourse,  has  since  been  retained  as  a 
title  of  respect  aud  honor.  Charles  Ffreuch,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  believes  himself  to  be  the  only  representative  of  the  family 
who  has  made  America  his  home,  and  is  well  known  among  the 
newspaper  men  of  Chicago  and  the  West.  Proud  of  his  origin,  a 
short  history  of  the  house  possesses  not  merely  personal  but  has 
considerable  general  interest. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  645 

The  family  is  a  very  ancient  one,  although  the  title  in  the  peer- 
age of  Ireland,  Baron  Ffrench,  is  comparatively  of  new  creation, 
having  been  bestowed  upon  the  widow  of  Sir  Charles  Ffreuch  of 
Castle  ffrench,  County  Galway,  in  1798.  She  was  a  daughter  of 
Patrick  Dillon,  great-great-grandson  of  the  first  Earl  of  Roscom- 
inon,  and  grandfather  of  the  ninth  and  tenth  Earls,  the  elder  branch 
of  the  family  failing.  The  name  of  her  first  cousin,  Robert,  the 
ninth  Earl  of  Roscommon,  and  Marshal  of  the  gallant  army  of 
France,  is  one  that  will  long  be  cherished  by  the  Irish  people  as 
among  the  commanders  who,  in  conjunction  with  Marshal  Count  de 
Thomond,  led  on  the  impetuous  charge  which  gave  Marshal  Saxe 
the  victory  on  the  bloody  field  of  Fonteuoy.  Through  the  Dillons, 
the  Ffreiiches  claim  true  Milesian  descent  for  seventeen  hundred 
years  before  the  time  of  Christ,  and  by  intermarriages  the  Ffrench 
family  has  allied  itself  frequently  with  the  noblest  names  the  his- 
tory of  Ireland  holds,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  the  Clauri- 
cardes,  family  name  De  Burgh,  the  Digbeys,  the  Leiusters  (Fitzger- 
alds,  the  historical  Geraldines),  the  Lanesboroughs  (Butlers),  the 
Ulayueys,  the  Inchiquins  (O'Briens),  the  Egmonts  (Percevals),  the 
YVestmeaths  (Nugents),  the  Charlemonts  (Caulfields),  the  Hunting- 
dons  (Hastings),  the  Blake  Forsters,  the  O'Connor  Blakes,  the  Bod- 
kins, the  Brownes,  the  Comyus,  the  Cheevers,  and  the  D'Arcys. 

The  family  of  Ffrench  is  of  course  of  Norman  origin,  and  accord- 
ing to  reliable  records  is  descended  from  Rollo,  first  Duke  of  Nor- 
mandy. On  the  rolls  of  Battle  Abbey  the  name  appears  Sir  The- 
ophilus  Ffrench,  being  one  of  the  knights  and  warriors  who  came 
over  to  England  with  William  the  Conquerer.  We  read  also  that 
Sir  Herbert  or  Humphrey  de  Freyue,  or  Ffrench,  was  among  the 
companions  of  Strongbow  to  Ireland  in  11(59,  and  was  given  large 
possessions  in  Leinster.  Later  the  family  removed  to  Ballymacuoge 
in  Wexford.  According  to  an  early  survey  of  the  Knights  Fees,  the 
Ffrenchos  in  the  times  of  Henry  III  owned  in  addition  to  Irish 


646  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

estates,  very  extensive  properties  in  Herefordshire,  and  at  that  time 
the  name  which  had  been  previously  variously  written  De  Fraxines, 
De  Frignes,  De  Le  Freigny,  De  ffreyne,  Freny,  Ffrynche,  assumed 
its  more  modern  form,  Ffrensh  or  ffrench.  Fulco  de  Freyne  was  ap- 
pointed the  Seneschal  of  Kilkenny  by  the  Earl  of  Gloucester,  son- 
in-law  of  King  Edward,  an  office  which  was  then  considered  one  of 
the  highest  trust  and  confidence.  Two  of  the  family,  Sir  Fulco  and 
Humphrey,  were  summonsed  as  magnates  of  Ireland  to  serve  the 
King's  wars  in  Scotland  and  took  part  in  the  Battle  of  Hallidown. 
In  1346,  Fulke,  the  son  of  Sir  Fulco,  was  with  King  Edward  at  the 
siege  of  Calais,  having  under  his  command  one  banneret,  one  knight, 
eighteen  armigeri  and  fourteen  nobillars,  making  in  all  thirty-four 
men.  In  1355,  the  same  Sir  Fulke  was  security  for  the  Earl  of  Des- 
mond, and  three  of  his  family  received  knighthood  from  Lionel, 
Duke  of  Clarence  as  among  the  most  distinguished  soldiers  of  the 
Kingdom.  From  Sir  Fulke's  son,  Kobert,  are  lineally  descended  the 
Ffreiiches  of  Coimaught  and  this  Kobert's  grandson,  Sir  John 
Ffrench,  was  a  man  of  immense  wealth  and  famous  for  his  liberali- 
ty, contributing  largely  to  the  churches  of  Galway,  and  among 
other  great  works,  building  the  chief  portion  of  the  Cathedral  of  St. 
Nicholas. 

Indeed  it  is  with  Galway  the  Ffrenches  are  most  closely  con- 
nected. Old  time  reliable  records  show  Walter  Ffrench,  Portrieve 
of  that  town  in  1301,  1303,  and  Provost  in  1305.  Another  Walter 
was  Mayor  in  1445,  and  his  grandson  was  Mayor  of  Galway  in  1595, 
and  an  executing  party  to  Perrot's  composition  for  the  Coimaught 
estates  in  1585.  Peter  Ffrench  was  Mayor  in  1576,  and  Eobert,  his 
brother,  in  1582,  followed  by  his  son  Edmund,  in  1606.  During  these 
stormy  periods  in  Ireland's  history,  several  of  the  Ffrench  family 
showed  their  devotion  to  the  Catholic  faith  by  sealing  it  with  their 
lives.  The  demand  was  "recant  or  hang,"  and  a  refusal  was  met 
with  the  order  to  string  up,  a  rope  having  been  passed  froin  one 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  647 

side  of  the  narrow  streets  which  are  so  common  iu  the  towii  of 
Galway  to  the  other.  Of  Oliver,  Alderman  of  Galway,  the  British 
Museum  contains  an  original  letter  signed  ''Oliver  oge  Ffrench, 
Maior  of  Galvay  XIX  th,  January,  1576."  It  was  his  grandson, 
Jasper  Ffrench,  who  built  Castle  Oloher,  afterwards  Castle  ffreuch, 
in  1635,  and  which  still  bears,  sculptured  in  stone  in  workmanship 
of  the  17th  century,  the  family  arms. 

The  official  Cromwellian  and  Williamite  records  are  full  of  fam- 
ily memorials  in  the  way  of  forfeiting  proprietors,  and  after  the 
Restoration  of  grants  of  acts  of  Settlement  and  Explanation  several 
of  the  family  being  mentioned  as  receiving  grants  in  Counties  Gal- 
way and  Mayo.  At  the  Supreme  Council  of  Kilkenny  sat  another 
distinguished  member  of  the  family  as  a  Spiritual  peer,  the  cele- 
brated Nicholas  Ffrench,  Roman  Catholic  Bishop 'of  Ferns. 

Of  the  Commons  in  the  Irish  Parliament  of  King  James  II  was 
Christopher  Ffrench  of  Galway,  who  there  much  distinguished  him- 
self. 

King  James'  Army  List  contains  many  of  the  family.  Captain 
Arthur  Ffreuch,  Mayor  of  Galway,  1691,  speaks  in  a  letter  dated 
July  15th  of  the  battle  of  Aughrim  as  "I  think  the  last  great  blow 
to  King  James,  his  cause."  Father  Gregory  Ffrench,  parish  priest 
of  Duras,  is  mentioned  in  a  letter  dated  1691  to  Baron  de  Ginckell  as 
having  been  arrested  as  a  suspect. 

Arriving  at  a  more  modern  age,  Charles  Ffrench  was  created  a 
baronet,  August  17th,  1779,  and  died  1784.  On  February  14th,  1798, 
his  widow,  formerly  Rose  Dillon,  was  made  a  peeress  of  Ireland,  the 
name  in  the  patent  of  nobility  being  spelled  as  some  of  the  family 
still  retain  it  "ffrench."  Their  son,  Thomas,  is  mentioned  by  Wolfe 
Tone  in  his  Memoirs  as  that  "handsome  young  Irishman,  whom  he 
had  the  happiness  of  shearing  into  the  brotherhood."  A  son  of  the 
latter,  Charles,  who  afterwards  succeeded  to  the  title,  was  a  great 
friend  of  Daniel  O'Counell,  and  took  a  very  active  part  by  word  and 


648  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP    THE 

pen  iii  the  latter's  agitation  for  Catholic  emancipation.  lie  was  the 
writer  of  many  able  letters  which  were  afterwards  published,  favor- 
ing repeal  of  the  union  and  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  Charles 
Ffreuch,  has  the  honor  to  be  his  grandson. 

Several  poor  seasons  made  the  payment  of  rents  by  the  tenants 
of  the  estate  almost  an  impossibility,  and  the  Ffreuches,  unlike 
many  other  of  the  Irish  aristocratic  element,  possessed  too  true  an 
affection  for  their  tenants  to  use  harsh  measures.  Unable  to  sup- 
port the  Galway  properties,  they  had  to  be  sold  in  1851,  under  the 
Encumbered  Estates  Act,  and  a  removal  was  then  made  to  Dublin. 
Jasper  Joseph  Ffreuch,  the  youngest  son  of  the  third  Baron,  Charles 
Austen,  settled  in  London,  and  there  his  only  son,  Charles  Ffreuch, 
was  bom  June  2(Jth,  1861.  Education  was  obtained  by  the  last 
named  in  two  leading  English  colleges,  following  which  he  was  for 
a  time  at  Oxford  University.  Such  a  raising  has,  so  his  American 
friends  sometimes  express  it,  given  an  uupleasant  veneer  of  accent 
to  what  ought  to  be  a  good  Irishman,  but  it  is  not  any  mere  method 
or  trick  of  speech  that  makes  the  Irishman. 

Brought  up  with  the  intention  of  entering  the  army,  that  refuge 
of  so  many  scions  of  Irish  families,  a  short  military  experience  with 
its  prevailing  habits,  ways  and  customs  so  impossible  to  one  whose 
income  was  limited  and  culminating  in  orders  for  India,  sufficed  for 
Charles  Ffreuch.  lie  resigned  his  commission,  took  unto  himself  a 
wife  and  embraced  a  journalistic  career.  His  efforts  were  crowned 
with  good  success  and  lie  made  himself  favorably  known  in  the 
London  weekly  press  and  the  English  magazines,  making  a  special- 
ty of  biographical  subjects.  The  great  field  offered  by  the  United 
States  for  limited  capital  induced  him  to  leave  London  and  seek 
fortune's  favors  in  the  western  states.  He  settled  down  in  Kansas 
City,  taking  up  some  business  speculative  ventures,  which  were 
for  a  time  brilliantly  successful,  but  not  recognizing  in  season  the 
necessity  of  retreat  he  Avas  swamped  in  the  bad  times  of  the  early 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  fi49 

'90's.  The  necessities  of  a  family  drove  him  to  resume  the  occupa- 
tion in  which  he  was  already  reasonably  experienced,  and  he  did 
some  good  work  on  the  Kansas  City  Journal.  Advised  that  Chi- 
cago offered  better  opportunities,  he  moved  to  this  city  in  1892  and 
found  a  good  field  for  his  abilities  in  the  World's  Fair.  He  later  es- 
sayed a  magazine  in  this  city,  an  enterprise  far  from  successful, 
and,  after  writing  considerably  for  various  Chicago  dailies,  was 
offered  a  position  on  the  then  about  to  be  started  "Chicago  Chron- 
icle." Here  he  remained  for  some  time,  but  the  heavy  night  duties 
injuring  his  health,  he  was  forced  to  retire  and  to  engage  in  more 
pretentious  literary  work. 

In  politics  Mr.  Ffrench  is  Republican,  but  no  partisan,  for  he 
recognizes  and  will  support  the  best  men  available  for  office,  irre- 
spective of  party.  He  resides  at  Grossdale,  near  Chicago;  has  a 
fine  library  and  some  good  paintings,  old  masters  and  modern. 
Early  in  1896  he  founded  a  paper,  "The  Grossdale  Vigilant,"  which 
has  made  its  power  felt  in  the  government  of  the  town  and  district. 
Mr.  Ffrench  was  nominated  in  1896  Town  Collector,  and  later  was 
given  the  Non-Partisan  nomination  from  the  Township  of  Proviso 
for  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

Mr.  Ffrench  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  of  the  An- 
cient Order  of  Hibernians.  Of  social  organizations  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Press  Club  of  Chicago,  being  at  the  present  time  its  recording 
secretary,  and  also  of  the  Columbia  Yacht  Club. 

He  was  married  in  1885  to  Florence  Burt,  an  English  lady  of 
brilliant  musical  powers  and  considerable  literary  abilities.  She 
contributes  regularly  to  several  Chicago  newspapers,  and  is  the 
Western  correspondent  and  musical  critic  for  the  "Musical  Cou- 
rier" of  New  York,  Paris,  London  and  Chicago,  the  greatest  paper 
of  its  kind  in  existence.  They  have  a  family  of  five  children,  two 
boys  and  three  girls.  The  eldest,  another  Charles,  was  born  in 


650  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OP    THE 

1886;  Evelyn,  Josephine  and  Jasper  Joseph  in  order,  according  to 
ages. 

An  extensive  traveler,  Mr.  Ffrench  knows  Great  Britain  thor- 
oghly;  has  journeyed  extensively  over  France,  Germany,  Belgium, 
Holland,  Italy  and  Switzerland,  has  visited  Africa,  and  is  familiar 
with  the  western  portion  of  the  United  States.  An  omnivorous 
reader,  gifted  with  a  very  retentive  memory  and  favored  with  nu- 
merous opportunities  to  meet  personally  many  of  the  world's  great- 
est minds,  his  ability  to  speak  intelligently  and  with  a  certain 
authority  on  a  wide  range  of  subjects  makes  him  an  interesting 
companion.  With  the  great  Irish  leader,  Charles  Stuart  Parnell, 
he  was  admitted  to  an  intimacy  few  can  boast  of,  and  only  a  few 
days  before  his  death,  being  in  England,  spent  an  hour  in  his  com- 
pany. 

Most  thoroughly  does  he  esteem  the  great  country  of  which  he 
is  an  adopted  son,  but  his  affection  is  none  the  less  strong  for  Ire- 
land, the  land  of  his  birth  and  of  his  forefathers.  To  see  that  coun- 
try free  and  happy,  under  the  government  of  men  who  command 
honor  and  respect  and  who  are  strangers  to  fraud,  abuse  and 
chicanery,  is  the  ambition  and  longing  of  his  life,  as  it  must  be  of 
all  true  hearted  and  true  natured  Irishmen,  or  of  that  large  section 
which  comes  under  the  broad  title  of  American  Irish. 

Stanley  Waterloo. 

(Written  expressly  for  this  work  by  that  greatest  of  western 
writers.) 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  651 


FREDERICK   W.  C.   HAYES. 


Frederick  W.  C.  Hayes  is  an  eminent  exponent  of  what  can  be 
achieved  with  Chicago  pluck  and  pel-severance.  Beginning  life 
as  a  poor  boy,  without  outside  assistance  of  any  description,  he  has 
succeeded  in  pushing  his  way  by  his  own  unaided  efforts  to  the 
front  rank  of  his  chosen  profession.  Although  a  comparatively 
young  man,  he  has  gained  wide  recognition  as  among  the  ablest 
hiwyers  in  the  City  of  Chicago. 

Mr.  Haj'es  was  born  at  Johnstown,  New  York,  January  20th, 
1859.  His  father,  Richard  B.  Hayes,  who  was  the  second  son  of 
Frederick  W.  Hayes,  the  proprietor  of  "Hayes'  Royal  Irish  Linen 
Thread,"  of  world-wide  reputation,  came  to  the  United  States  from 
Banbridge^  County  Down,  Ireland,  in  1856.  The  mother  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  formerly  Mary  E.  Nellis,  a  native  of 
Ephratali,  N.  Y.,  and  a  descendant  of  the  well-known  Edwards 
family  of  New  York  State.  His  ancestors  on  the  mother's  side 
fought  in  the  Revolutionary  War  and  the  War  of  1812.  When  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  boy  of  ten,  he  came  with  his  mother  to 
Chicago,  and  received  his  education  in  this  city's  grammar  and 
high  schools.  In  the  fall  of  1876,  Mr.  Hayes  entered  the  old  Uni- 
versity of  Chicago,  and  graduated  therefrom  with  honors  in  1880, 
receiving  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts.  Since,  he  has  been  re- 
degreed  by  the  new  university,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Alumni 
Association  of  that  institution. 

He  began  his  legal  studies  at  the  Union  College  of  Law  in  1880, 
and  two  years  later  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  During  his  col- 
legiate and  legal  studies,  he  was  compelled  to  support  himself,  and 


fi52  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

while  iii  college  did  so  by  teaching  night  school  aiid  delivering 
newspapers,  and  while  reading  law,  by  working  in  the  Recorder's 
office,  and  also  as  clerk  for  Justice  Charles  Arnd.  Immediately 
after  admission  to  the  bar,  Mr.  Hayes  started  out  into  active  prac- 
tice, and  became  a  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Young  &  Hayes,  com- 
posed of  Kimball  Young  and  himself.  This  firm  was  dissolved  in 
1884  on  account  of  the  illness  and  retirement  of  Mr.  Young,  and 
Mr.  Hayes  ran  the  business  alone.  On  account  of  ill  health  he  was 
compelled  to  spend  the  greater  part  of  three  years,  from  1889  to 
the  end  of  1891,  in  New  Mexico.  Upon  his  return  to  Chicago,  he 
became  connected  with  the  law  department  of  the  city  under  the 
Washburne  administration,  during  which  period  he  made  an  en- 
viable record  for  himself  and  had  charge  of  much  important  litiga- 
tion. Chief  among  the  important  cases  he  successfully  conducted 
for  the  city  was  the  big  Wentworth  Avenue  sew.er  case,  the  largest 
and  most  important  special  assessment  case  ever  tried  in  this 
country.  The  total  assessment  amounted  to  $816,000,  and  five 
different  juries  passed  upon  the  different  phases  thereof.  In  one 
of  these  trials,  involving  over  f  120,000  of  objections,  twenty  promi- 
nent lawyers  were  pitted  against  Mr.  Hayes,  and,  after  a  trial  of 
over  thirty  days,  the  jury  found  for  the  city.  This  was  a  great 
personal  triumph  for  Mr.  Hayes,  as  it  was  largely  through  his  ef- 
ficient efforts  and  skill  that  the  case  was  won,  and  at  once  estab- 
lished his  reputation  as  a  most  able  trial  lawyer.  At  the  present 
time  he  is  a  member  of  the  well-known  law  firm  of  Mann,  Hayes  & 
Miller,  consisting  of  James  R,  Mann,  George  W.  Miller  and  Mr. 
Hayes.  The  senior  member  of  the  firm  is  Congressman  from  the 
First  District  of  Illinois,  and  the  junior  member,  Mr.  Miller,  is  a 
representative  to  the  Illinois  Legislature  from  the  Third  Sena- 
torial District.  This  firm  has  successfully  combined  politics  and 
the  practice  of  law,  and  each  member,  although  all  are  compara- 
tively young  men,  has  attained  official  distinction,  and  together 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  663 

they  have  built  up  an  extensive  practice  in  corporation  and  muni- 
cipal law. 

Mr.  TTayes  is  one  of  the  Masters  in  Chancery  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  Cook  County,  as  well  as  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  law 
institute,  and  in  the  early  part  of  1897  was  selected  as  attorney 
for  the  Sanitary  District  of  Chicago.  This  is  a  position  of  honor, 
as  well  as  one  requiring  much  legal  skill  and  acumen,  and  affords 
most  excellent  opportunity  for  the  experience  and  ability  evi- 
denced by  Mr.  Hayes. 

Politically,  Mr.  Hayes  has  at  all  times  been  an  ardent  Repub- 
lican, and  for  several  years  was  president  of  the  Thirty-second 
Ward  Republican  Club.  He  was  one  of  the  original  seven  who 
founded  the  Marquette  Club  of  Chicago,  was  the  first  vice  presi- 
dent of  that  organization,  and  still  remains  a  member.  In  his  re- 
ligious views  he  is  a  Protestant,  but  believes  must  emphatically 
that  every  man  should  have  the  right  to  follow  the  dictates  of  his 
own  conscience  without  let  or  hindrance,  "practice,  more  than 
creed,"  has  been  made  his  text  in  religion. 

September  2nd,  188fi,  Mr.  Hayes  married  Lucy  Ella  Leach,  of 
Manchester  by  the  Sea,  Mass.,  and  two  children  have  been  born  to 
them,  Frederick  L.  and  Lucy  IT.  Hayes. 

Mr.  Hayes  is  a  great  lover  of  outdoor  sports  and  exercise,  es- 
pecially horseback  riding,  in  which  he  is  very  proficient,  and  is 
considered  one  of  the  best  horsemen  in  the  city.  He  is  a  man  of 
genial  disposition  and  courteous  manner,  of  fine  presence,  being- 
well  proportioned  and  six  feet  in  height.  His  dark  skin  and  hair 
show  the  Celtic  blood. 

The  marked  success  he  has  won  is  a  sufficient  testimonial  not 
only  to  the  possession  of  superior  natural  abilities,  but  also  to  the 
exemplary  perseverance  and  industry  which  has  been  shown  in 
every  stage  of  his  career.  He  is  a  firm  believer  in  the  doctrine 
that  work  will  tell,  and  the  fact  that  his  position  is  entirely  the 

35 


654  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

result  of  his  owii  efforts,  makes  it  his  chief  pride  and  his  proudest 
title  to  be  kiiown  as  "a  self-made  niau."  Mr.  Hayes  has  won  the 
esteem  not  only  of  the  members  of  his  profession,  but  of  the  gen- 
eral public,  and  if  the  promise  of  his  past  be  fulfilled,  his  future 
career  must  be  one  both  brilliant  and  honorable. 


AUSTIN    OLIVER   SEXTON. 


Mr.  Sexton  was  born  August  15th,  1852;  his  parents,  Stephen 
and  Ann  Sexton,  both  being  Irish.  His  father  might  well  claim 
the  distinction  of  an  old  settler,  for  it  was  so  far  back  as  1834  that 
he  located  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Sexton's  education  was  received  in  the  schools  of  this  city, 
and  he  graduated  from  the  Chicago  high  school  in  the  class  of 
1872.  He  at  once  began  the  study  of  law  and  was  admitted  to 
practice  July  4th,  1876.  In  his  chosen  profession  he  has  been 
eminently  successful,  and  has  shown  himself  possessed  of  the 
many  and  diverse  gifts  which  are  requisite  to  the  leading  lawyer. 

In  his  politics,  though  strongly  Democratic,  his  general  popu- 
larity among  all  sections  of  the  community  was  shown  in  his  elec- 
tion by  the  people  in  a  Kepublican  district  upon  seven  different  oc- 
casions. For  four  consecutive  terms,  from  1876  to  1883,  he  repre- 
sented the  Sixth  District  in  the  State  Legislature,  and  in  the  ses- 
sion of  1883  he  was  the  Democratic  nominee  for  speaker.  He  was 
President  in  Lake  View  of  the  Board  of  Education;  was  in  1890 
elected  Alderman  of  the  Twenty-fifth  ward,  and  was  re-elected  in 
1892,  being  given  the  position  of  Chairman  of  the  judiciary  com- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  655 

mittee.  He  was  a  candidate  for  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of 
Cook  County  on  the  Democratic  ticket  November,  1893,  and  was 
beaten  with  his  ticket. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  be- 
longing to  the  Aetna  Lodge,  159. 

Mr.  Sexton  was  married  in  1874  to  Mary  J.  Lyons  of  Chicago, 
and  they  have  four  children — William  II.,  Laura  G.,  Mary  O.  and 
Georgiana. 


WILLIS  MELVILLE. 


In  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  we  have  another  young 
member  of  the  legal  confraternity,  who  has  evinced  such  special 
aptitude  for  his  profession  as  to  have  secured  already  a  prominent 
place. 

Willis  Melville  was  born  at  Madison,  Wis.,  August  1st,  1868. 
Of  his  parents,  John  and  Mary  Melville,  his  father  was  a  native  of 
llochester,  N.  Y.,  born  there  in  1831,  while  his  mother  was  from 
beautiful  Killarney,  Ireland,  which  she  left  at  the  age  of  twelve  to 
come  to  the  United  States.  She  settled  in  Milwaukee,  and  thence 
to  Madison,  Wis.  John  Melville,  having  completed  his  education, 
went  to  Chippewa  Falls,  Wis.,  and  engaged  in  stock  farming  and 
lumber  business.  Later  he  enlisted  in  the  Thirtieth  Wisconsin 
Volunteers,  and  for  four  years  served  under  General  Grant. 

Willis  Melville  attended  the  grammar  and  high  schools  of 
Madison  and  later  Lake  Forest  University,  graduating  from  the 
latter  and  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1892.  For  some  time  he 
practiced  law  with  Seymour  Stedman,  and  rapidly  making  a  rep- 
utation for  himself,  gathered  together  a  large  business.  In  1896 


656  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

he  joined  the  well-known  firm  of  Melville,  Stobbs  &  Melville,  which 
has  the  legal  representation  of  a  number  of  towns  and  villages  and 
has  transacted  a  large  high  class  practice  of  a  general  character. 

Mr.  Melville  was  married  in  Waukesha  in  1893,  to  Miss  Lillian 
Smith,  a  Wisconsin  lady  of  first-class  educational  advantages,  who 
is,  like  her  husband,  a  member  of  the  bar,  but  who  up  to  the  pres- 
ent time  has  not  practiced.  Twin  daughters  were  born  to  them 
in  1895. 

A  Republican  in  his  political  opinions,  Mr.  Melville  belongs  to 
the  Episcopalian  Church.  He  is  a  Mason  and  a  Knight  Templar, 
as  well  as  a  fifteenth  degree  Odd  Fellow,  and  a  member  of  the 
Order  of  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  has  filled  chairs  in  all  his  lodges, 
as  well  as  in  the  Royal  League  and  the  Sons  of  Veterans.  Of  the 
Odd  Fellows  he  has  been  grand  representative  since  he  was 
twenty-two.  He  has  also  had  some  military  training,  having 
served  his  time  in  the  Second  Regiment. 

Pleasant  and  happy  in  his  disposition,  and  with  a  manner 
always  bright  and  courteous,  Mr.  Melville  has  succeeded  in  mak- 
ing for  himself  a  host  of  friends,  who  respect  him  for  his  good 
business  abilities  and  esteem  him  for  his  good  personal  qualifica- 
tions. 


JOHN  J.  MAHONEY. 


John  J.  Mahoney  was  born  in  Chicago,  November  5th,  1854. 
His  parents,  Patrick  and  Julia  (Conlin)  Mahoney,  came  from  Lim- 
erick, Ireland,  to  the  United  States  in  1840,  settled  first  at  New 
Haven,  Conn.,  and  then,  after  a  short  time,  moved  to  Chicago, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  657 

where  the  father  died  in  1864  and  the  mother  in  the  year  follow- 
ing. The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  St.  Patrick's  parochial 
school,  where  he  remained  until  he  was  fifteen  years  old,  when  he 
left,  and  decided  to  learn  the  painter's  trade,  at  which,  in  after 
years,  he  became  proficient.  From  his  earliest  days  he  was  noted 
for  his  ability  as  an  organizer  of  men.  For  years  he  was  president 
of  the  local  union,  No.  10,  of  the  Painters'  Union  of  Chicago,  which, 
like  the  majority  of  all  similar  societies,  became  attached  to  the 
Knights  of  Labor  when  the  latter  organization  was  in  the  meridian 
of  its  fame  and  glory.  For  several  years  he  was  State  Master 
Workman  of  the  Knights  of  Labor  of  Illinois;  was  a  member  of 
District  No.  24,  K.  of  L.,  of  Chicago;  was  a  representative  to  the 
national  conventions  of  that  body  at  Richmond,  Minneapolis,  at 
Indianapolis  and  also  at  Atlanta.  For  many  years,  too,  he  was  a 
trusted  employe  of  the  County  Hospital,  holding  the  important 
position  of  custodian  of  that  great  institution  through  several  ad- 
ministrations. 

When  Roger  C.  Sullivan  was  elected  to  the  office  of  clerk  of 
the  Probate  Court,  the  latter  made  Mr.  Mahoney  his  cashier,  and 
when  his  term  of  office  expired  Mr.  Mahouey  was  retained  in  the 
office,  being  so  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  manifold  duties  that 
Mr.  Cooper,  the  present  clerk,  availed  himself  of  the  experienced 
services  of  this  honest  and  faithful  employe. 

Mr.  Mahoney  has  at  all  times  taken  a  keen  interest  in  matters 
relating  to  the  laud  of  his  ancestors.  He  was  an  active  member 
of  the  Land  League,  and  was  one  of  the  most  energetic  members 
of  the  reception  committee,  appointed  to  receive  the  late  illus- 
trious Charles  Stewart  Parnell  on  his  visit  to  this  city  in  1881. 
He  was  also  connected  with  the  National  League,  to  which  he 
contributed  large  sums  of  money.  In  1893,  he  entered  the  Kent 
College  of  Law,  and  received  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Laws  with 
high  honors  in  1895. 


658  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 

Mr.  Malioney  is  at  present  a  member  of  Division  No.  5,  A.  O. 
H.,  as  well  as  president  of  the  United '  Irish  Societies  of  Chicago, 
having  succeeded  the  lion.  John  F.  Finerty  in  that  most  important 
office.  lie  is  also  prominently  connected  with  the  National  Union, 
the  Catholic  Benevolent  Legion,  the  Knights  of  Columbus,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Red  Men,  the  Robert  Emmet  Literary  Club,  and 
is  president  of  the  Chicago  Citizen  newspaper,  of  which  John  F. 
Finerty  is  editor-in-chief. 

Mr.  Malioney  is  entirely  a  self-made  man,  and  one  well  worthy 
of  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens  and  countrymen. 
At  the  outcome  9f  his  career,  his  sole  advantage  was  an  enterpris- 
ing and  indomitable  spirit,  and  that  best  essential  of  success,  an 
independence  of  character  no  difficulties  could  daunt.  The  repu- 
tation he  has  achieved,  and  the  position  he  has  gained  among  the 
American  Irish  of  Chicago,  are  such  as  should  be  a  source  of  hon- 
est pride  to  any  man. 


JOHN   SAMUEL  SHEAHAN. 

John  Samuel  Sheahan  was  born  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  Septem- 
ber 27th,  1857.  His  parents  were  James  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Drury) 
Sheahan,  his  mother  being  one  of  the  noted  Drurys,  an  English 
family  who  came  over  and  located  in  Ann  Arundel  County,  Mary- 
land, in  the  early  settlement  of  that  section  of  the  country.  His 
grandfather  was  from  County  Cork,  Ireland,  which  he  left  in  1827, 
settling  in  Baltimore.  Mr.  James  W.  Sheahan,  his  father,  was  a 
prominent  newspaper  man,  being  Washington  correspondent  for 
several  daily  papers  before  the  war.  His  ability  attracted  the  at- 
tention of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  who  induced  him  to  come  West 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  659 

and  to  act  as  his  press  agent,  at  the  same  time  editing  a  paper  in 
his  interest.  This  he  did,  and  settled  in  Chicago,  where  he  as- 
sisted to  launch  and  was  prominently  connected  with  many  pa- 
pers that  have  since  become  famous,  among  others,  and  notably, 
the  Chicago  Tribune.  His  gifts  were  of  no  ordinary  character, 
and  he  was  highly  respected  in  the  newspaper,  business  and  social 
circles.  Indeed  his  many  high  qualities  and  goodness  of  charac- 
ter gained  him  the  esteem  and  affection  of  all  who  knew  him. 

John  Sheahau,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  received  his  early  ed- 
ucation in  the  public  schools  of  Chicago,  graduating  from  the 
Christian  Brothers'  College.  Immediately  afterwards  he  found 
employment  in  the  freight  office  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
as  clerk,  in  which  capacity  he  remained  for  three  years;  then 
going  to  Kreigh  &  Company,  the  leading  packing  house  of  those 
days,  as  assistant  bookkeeper,  in  whose  employ  he  remained  until 
the  failure  of  the  firm,  four  years  later.  He  then  accepted  a  posi- 
tion with  W.  P.  Rend  &  Company,  the  well  known  coal  dealers, 
as  book-keeper,  remaining  there  until  1887,  when  he  was  a  victim 
to  a  severe  illness,  which  entirely  incapacitated  him  for  twelve 
months. 

| 

Upon  his  recovery  he  was  appointed  a  deputy  collector  in  the 
County  Treasurer's  office  by  George  R.  Davis,  and  displayed  such 
good  ability  and  was  so  attentive  to  his  duties  while  holding  this 
position  that  Mr.  Davis  recommended  him  for  promotion,  and  at 
the  solicitation  of  Mr.  Joseph  Medill  he  was  appointed  chief  clerk 
of  the  special  assessment  department  of  Chicago,  one  of  the  most 
important  offices  in  the  city.  Again  Mr.  Sheahan's  wonderful 
executive  ability  caused  him  to  be  promoted,  this  time  to  the  more 
responsible  position  of  Superintendent  of  special  assessments. 
In  this  office  the  character  of  his  duties  will  be  appreciated  when 
it  is  known  that  he  prepares  all  ordinances  for  improvements 
which  are  to  be  paid  by  special  assessment,  and  which  amounts  to 


660  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF    THE 

an  average  of  $12,000,000  annually.  In  his  department  there  are 
thirty-five  clerks  employed. 

While  he  has  never  made  himself  very  prominent  in  political 
circles,  he  has  always  upheld  Democratic  principles,  and  is  as 
highly  respected  within  the  party  as  he  is  by  his  own  large  circle 
of  friends. 

Mr.  Sheahan  was  married  to  Margaret  A.  Green,  niece  to  Ked- 
moud  and  John  Prindeville.  They  have  one  child — a  boy- 
James  W. 


CAPT.   WILLIAM   BUCKLEY. 


A  long  tried  and  ever  faithful  public  servant,  the  name  of  Cap- 
tain William  Buckley  is  inseparably  connected  with  the  develop- 
ment of  the  police  service  of  Chicago.  Nearly  twenty-five  years 
embraced  within  the  period  of  his  active  identification  with  the 
department,  mark  that  epoch  in  the  history  of  the  city  which  con- 
tains most  of  interest  and  importance  in  relation  to  the  metropolis 
of  the  West.  His  residence  in  Chicago  dates  from  the  summer  of 
1856,  and  his  service  in  and  for  the  police  department  extends  all 
along  the  line  of  the  interesting  and  momentous  years  from  1865 
to  1888,  or,  in  other  words,  from  the  Chicago  as  it  existed  before 
the  "Great  Fire"  to  a  time  just  previous  to  the  World's  Fair.  Very 
full,  exciting  and  trying  years  were  these,  and  the  man  who  passed 
them  in  the  service  of  the  police  department  sustained  a  full  share 
of  duty,  trial  and  danger  such  as  falls  to  but  few.  Especially  is 
this  true  of  Capt.  Buckley,  who,  during  the  rebuilding  of  the  city, 
after  the  great  fire,  was  in  charge  of  the  central,  or  business,  difc- 
trict.  He  sustained  equally  responsible  rank  through  the  trying 


s 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  663 

times  of  the  labor  riots  of  1877,  and  the  anarchist  troubles  which 
culminated  in  the  Ilaymarket  riot  and  massacre  of  1885.  Such,  in 
a  merely  summary  outline,  is  the  character  and  scope  of  the  valu- 
able and  trustworthy  public  services  for  so  many  years,  by  the 
able  and  popular  Irish-American  to  which  this  relates. 

William  Buckley  comes  of  good,  sturdy  farmers'  stock,  lo/ig  set- 
tled in  the  County  of  Waterford,  Ireland,  and  he  was  born  there 
June  9th,  1832.  His  father  was  Thomas  Buckley,  a  fanner  of 
Waterford,  who  married  Miss  Catherine  O'Douovan,  whose  people 
were  farmers  settled  in  the  same  county.  The  old  Buckley  home- 
stead was  in  first-rate  order  and  the  farm  in  good  shape  when  last 
visited  by  Capt.  Buckley,  on  a  trip  to  Europe  in  the  summer  of  1896. 
At  that  time  he  picked  apples  from  trees  in  an  orchard  planted  by 
his  father  and  himself,  previous  to  their  departure  for  the  United 
States.  Some  of  these  apples  he  had  packed  and  shipped  to  the 
family  in  Chicago.  He  was  sixteen  when  he  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  the  United  States.  Accustomed  to  farm  life  from  his  earli- 
est boyhood,  it  was  but  natural  that  farming  should  seem  to  be  the 
most  congenial  pursuit  in  this  new  country,  and  his  first  years  in 
America  were  spent  in  farming,  first  upon  the  farm  of  Col.  George 
D.  Coles  of  Glen  Cove,  Queens  County,  New  York,  and  subsequently 
upon  a  farm  in  Warren  County,  Ohio.  It  was  on  July  7th,  1850, 
young  Buckley  arrived  in  Chicago,  and  soon  afterwards  found  his 
first  employment  here  in  the  coal  business  carried  on  by  Col.  Rich- 
ard J.  Hamilton.  He  was  afterwards  employed  by  Messrs.  Law 
and  Strother  in  the  same  business  on  North  Clark  Street,  exactly 
where  the  great  Sibley  warehouses  now  stand.  The  Mr.  Law  of 
the  firm  was  the  well-known  Itobert  Law,  who  ultimately  proved 
the  life-long  friend  of  his  young  emplojre.  The  street  car  service 
was  his  next  field  of  employment,  and  from  1859  to  1865  he  served 
as  a  conductor  at  a  time  when  the  entire  street  car  service  of  Chi- 
cago was  represented  by  seven  cars  on  State,  four  on  Madison  and 


664  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 

five  on  Randolph  Streets,  at  intervals  of  about  twenty  minutes 
apart.  It  was  in  1865  that  William  Buckley  joined  the  police  force, 
at  the  instance  and  personal  request  of  the  late  well-known  Wil- 
liam Turtle,  at  that  time  Chief  of  Police.  Headquarters  were  then 
in  a  small  building  on  the  southwest  corner  of  La  Salle  and  Wash- 
ington Streets,  on  the  site  of  the  present  Stock  Exchange  Building. 
He  was  recommended  to  the  police  department  by  notably  promi- 
nent citizens,  Murray  F.  Tuley,  now  Judge  Tuley,  and  Hon.  J.  Rus- 
sell Jones,  at  that  time  superintendent  of  the  West  Division  Rail- 
road Company.  Quickly  he  rose  from  roundsman  to  captain  — 
there  was  no  rank  of  lieutenants  in  those  days  —  till  he  was  com- 
missioned by  Mayor  Medill,  July  14th,  1873,  Captain  of  the  First 
Precinct,  with  headquarters  at  the  Harrison  Street  Station,  suc- 
ceeding Capt.  Michael  C.  Hickey,  who  had  resigned.  His  appoint- 
ment was  unanimously  confirmed  by  the  City  Council,  and  he  at 
once  entered  actively  upon  the  dischai'ge  of  his  duties  as  the  com- 
manding officer,  responsible  for  the  proper  police  supervision  of 
the  great  business  center  and  down-town  district  of  Chicago.  From 
that  time  until  his  retirement  in  1888,  Capt.  William  Buckley  was 
in  the  very  front  rank  of  police  affairs  in  Chicago,  always  a  trusted, 
vigilant  and  gallant  officer,  and  one  whose  name  has  always  been 
held  in  respect  and  affection  by  his  official  superiors,  brother  offi- 
cers and  the  men  of  the  whole  service.  It  is  impossible  to  enter 
into  detail  upon  such  a  busy  and  trying  career  as  is  summed  up  in 
the  history  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century's  service  in  the  police 
department  of  Chicago  and  the  trying  times  of  the  "Great  Fire" 
days — when  the  business  part  of  Chicago  laid  in  ashes — the  '77 
labor  riots  and  the  '85  anarchist  troubles  have  already  been 
touched  upon.  His  enviable  reputation  and  standing  in  the  police 
department  is  best  shown  by  the  fact  that  lie  was  elected  and  re- 
elected  treasurer  of  the  Police  Benevolent  Association,  of  which  he 
was  a  charter  member,  from  1868  to  1877,  inclusive.  He  has  also 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  665 

served  in  a  similar  responsible  capacity,  the  Veteran  Police  Asso- 
ciation, the  membership  of  which  is  exclusively  for  police  officers 
of  twenty  years'  service,  retired  on  pension. 

After  his  retirement  in  1888,  Capt.  Buckley  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Thirty-sixth  General  Assembly,  Legislature  of  Illinois, 
which  convened  in  January,  1889.  He  was  elected  to  represent  the 
Third  District,  which  in  itself  was  a  signal  compliment  and  in  a 
great  sense  an  expression  of  the  confidence  of  the  business  com- 
munity of  Chicago  in  him,  as  the  Third  District  comprises  all  the 
most  important  central  section  of  the  city,  containing  the  banks, 
mercantile  and  insurance  offices,  etc.  Among  the  important  pub- 
lic measures  passed  at  this  session  of  the  legislature  were  the  spe- 
cial acts  creating  the  Board  of  Drainage  Trustees',  for  the  operation 
of  the  great  Drainage  Canal ;  the  act  which  introduced  the  famous 
and  now  general  Australian  Ballot  System,  in  the  adoption  of 
which  Illinois  was  one  of  the  first  of  the  states;  and  also  the  statute 
regulating  the  holding  of  the  primaries,  known  as  the  Primary 
Law,  and  which  for  the  first  time  created  a  system  of  registration 
of  the  primary  ballot  Capt.  Buckley  also  participated,  as  an  ac- 
tive member,  in  the  special  session  of  the  legislature  called  for  the 
purpose  of  determining  by  a  special  act  the  site  of  the  Columbian 
World's  Fair,  and  which  enabled  the  City  of  Chicago  to  issue  bonds 
to  the  amount  of  .f5,000,000  in  aid  of  it.  From  first  to  last  he  was 
an  ardent,  active  and  influential  supporter  in  the  legislature  of 
every  measure  promoting  the  interests  of  the  Fair,  as  the  record 
of  his  vote  attests. 

In  September  of  1858,  Capt.  Buckley  married  Miss  Catharine 
Cashin,  and  four  children  were  born  of  the  union.  Of  these, 
Thomas,  Mary  and  Itichard  are  deceased;  the  two  first  named  in 
childhood,  the  latter  in  his  twenty-third  year,  in  the  very  opening 
of  an  advantageous  business  career.  The  loving  wife  and  mother 
was  also  destined  to  "go  before,"  and  to  the  unspeakable  grief  of  a 


666  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

singularly  united  and  happy  family,  died  January  12th,  1882. 
Catharine,  the  surviving  daughter,  married  February  21st,  1884, 
Mr.  Daniel  F.  Burke  of  the  firm  of  Burke  Brothers,  and  it  is  with 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burke  and  their  four  little  daughters,  Irene  (12), 
Grace  (10),  Hazel  (7)  and  Frances  (4),  that  Capt  Buckley  resides  in 
a  spacious  and  beautiful  home  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Fifty- 
third  Street  and  Lexington  (No.  5300  Lexington  Avenue). 

Stalwart  yet,  and  evidently  but  just  in  the  autumn  of  his  years, 
the  veteran  officer  takes  life  easily  and  happily  with  his  daughter, 
son-in-law  and  young  grand-daughters,  in  a  beautiful  home  situ- 
ated in  its  own  pretty  grounds,  in  itself  an  ornament  to  one  of  the 
most  charming  of  the  South  Park  localities.  And  within  its  at- 
tractive interior,  'equipped  with  all  that  modern  comfort  can  se- 
cure, and  enriched  with  much  that  artistic  taste  suggests,  can  be 
found  many  a  handsome  trophy,  interesting  souvenirs  and  massive 
silver  badge  and  prize  cups,  which  serve  to  unite  the  Captain's 
peaceful  pleasant  present  with  the  years  of  duty,  trial  and  danger, 
night  and  day,  for  twenty-five  years,  in  the  Chicago  Police  Depart- 
ment. 


JOHN   P.  BARRETT. 


John  P.  Barrett  was  born  in  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  in  1837.  He  came 
to  Chicago  in  1845  with  his  parents,  and  attended  the  public 
schools  until  he  was  eleven  years  old.  Mr.  Barrett  was,  as  a  boy, 
attracted  to  a  sea-faring  life,  and  sailed  for  eleven  years,  receiving 
while  engaged  in  that  profession  a  permanent  injury.  When  he 
returned  to  Chicago  he  obtained  a  position  with  the  city  fire  de- 
partment, and  in  1862  was  appointed  assistant  in  the  fire  alarm 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  667 

telegraph  department.  lu  1876  lie  was  made  superintendent,  and 
still  held  that  position  while  chief  of  the  electricity  department  of 
the  World's  Columbian  Exposition,  having  been  the  unanimous 
choice  of  all  the  electricians  in  the  country  for  that  distinguished 
office.  John  P.  Barrett  is  a  man  of  originality,  and  is  the  inventor 
of  what  is  known  as  the  "Little  Joker"  fire  alarm  signal,  lie  is  the 
originator  of  the  fire  alarm  patrol  system,  and  was  first  to  con- 
ceive the  idea  of  the  laying  of  electric  wires  underground.  The 
success  of  this  underground  system  has  been  absolutely  demon- 
strated, and  is  being  largely  introduced  in  the  various  centers  of 
population  throughout  the  United  States  and  foreign  countries. 
No  better  illustration  of  the  marked  ability  of  Mr.  Barrett  can  be 
found  than  in  the  improvements  he  has  made,  and  the  perfection 
to  which  he  has  brought  the  department  of  electricity  of  Chicago 
and  his  success  in  connection  with  the  World's  Columbian  Expo- 
sition. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Columbus  and  Sheridan  Clubs. 


THOMAS  SCANLAN. 


Thomas  Scanlan,  another  of  Chicago's  adopted  and  highly  es- 
teemed citizens,  was  born  near  Tralee,  County  Kerry,  Ireland,  on 
December  4th,  1841.  Both  parents  were,  also  natives  of  County 
Kerry,  his  father,  John  Scanlan,  having  been  born  near  the  beau- 
tiful River  Shannon,  and  his  mother,  Lucy  Lombard,  at  Castle 
Island.  The  father,  who  was  by  occupation  a  farm  and  contract- 
ing stone  mason,  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence, 


668  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

had  traveled  considerably  and  was,  by  his.  neighbors  and  friends, 
looked  up  to  as  a  leader  and  mentor. 

Thomas,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  received  his  earlier  teach- 
ing in  the  national  and  private  schools  of  his  native  town  until  he 
was  seven  years  of  age,  when  .with  his  parents  he  came  via  New 
Orleans  to  Cincinnati,  where  the  family  located.  His  father,  how- 
ever, died  two  years  later,  when  the  boy  was  only  nine  years  old, 
and  the  mother  followed  to  the  grave  six  months  after.  It  was 
left  to  the  eldest  sister,  Margaret,  to  take  charge  of  the  family, 
and  Mr.  Scanlan  speaks  most  affectionately  of  the  manner  in  which 
this  thoroughly  noble  woman  performed  all  her  duties. 

The  boy  was  sent  to  St.  Xavier's  parochial  school  until  he  was 
about  twelve  years  old,  and,  though  at  first  disinclined  to  be  very 
studious  and  rather  after  the  pattern  described  by  one  of  our 
poets,  a  boy  "with  a  dread  of  books  and  love  of  fun,"  his  later 
teacher,  Mr.  George  Kelly,  of  whom  he  still  speaks  very  warmly, 
appears  to  have  inspired  him  with  a  desire  for  learning  which  ever 
after  clung  to  him.  While  still  quite  young  .he  had  to  leave  school, 
and  obtained  employment  as  clerk  in  a  grocery  store  at  Coving- 
ton,  Ky.,  and  later  on  in  Cincinnati.  After  three  years'  service, 
being  unusually  matured,  both  physically  and  mentally,  for  a  lad 
of  sixteen,  his  employer  suggested  that  he  should  find  a  partner 
and  buy  out  the  business.  With  some  hesitation  the  matter  was 
broached  to  his  brother-in-law,  Michael  A.  Kavanaugh,  a  pilot  on 
boats  running  between  Cincinnati  and  St,  Louis,  and  the  latter 
agreed  to  go  in  with  him.  A  partnership  was  formed,  Mr.  Scan- 
Ian  having  chief  charge  of  the  grocery  business  and  his  brother-in- 
law  still  continuing  his  piloting.  The  desire  for  futher  education 
was  still  warm  in  the  young  man's  mind,  and,  while  attending  to 
the  requirements  of  his  business,  every  spare  moment  was  devoted 
to  reading.  This,  however,  was  necessarily  so  limited  that  after 
three  years  had  passed  he  determined  to  give  up  the  business.  He 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  669 

did  not  consider  his  means  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  go  to  college, 
and  instead  lie  accepted  the  invitation  of  a  friend  in  Nashville, 
Tenu.,  to  learn  carpentering,  intending  to  continue  his  studies 
mornings  and  in  the  evenings  when  his  work  was  over.  The  ar- 
rangement, however,  proved  unsatisfactory,  and  after  a  few 
mouths  he  returned  to  Cincinnati.  At  this  time  his  old  tutor, 
George  Kelly,  learning  of  the  young  man's  desire  to  improve  him- 
self, and  that  he  had  a  taste  for  literary  pursuits,  offered  him  the 
position  of  assistant  teacher  at  Springfield,  Ohio,  and  with  some 
difficulty  succeeded  in  overcoming  his  diffidence  by  assuring  him  of 
success,  and  at  the  same  time  agreed  to  teach  him  mathematics. 
Mr.  Scanlan  consequently  went  to  Springfield  in  1860,  and 
achieved  such  marked!  success  that  at  the  end  of  a  year  he  was 
offered  the  position  then  held  by  Mr.  Kelly,  but  declined;  and,  hav- 
ing during  his  year  at  Springfield  learned  to  play  the  organ,  he  ac- 
cepted instead  a  position  at  Xenia,  Ohio,  as  teacher  and  organist. 
This  was  in  1861,  and  here  for  four  years  he  remained,  gaining  ap- 
preciation from  all,  not  only  for  his  ability  as  teacher  and  organist, 
but  also  for  his  executive  capacity  and  general  management.  The 
desire  to  further  improve  himself  was  still  strong,  so,  having  a 
little  capital  now  on  hand,  he  was  advised  to  attend  Farmers'  Col- 
lege near  Cincinnati.  This  he  did  from  1865  to  1867,  taking  up 
Latin,  Greek,  mathematics,  logic,  etc.,  at  the  same  time  acting  as 
organist  for  a  church  in  the  suburbs  and  keeping  books  for  a  Cin- 
cinnati firm.  On  leaving  college  in  1867,  he  took  up  the  study  of 
law  in  the  office  of  Sage,  Haacke  &  Taft,  the  well-known  jurists, 
and  also  attended  the  Cincinnati  Law  School.  At  the  end  of  a 
year,  finding  his  funds  running  low,  he  concluded  to  resume 
teaching,  and  was  remarkably  successful  in  passing  his  examina- 
tion for  principal's  certificate  before  the  board  of  examiners,  re- 
ceiving an  average  of  98  per  cent  in  seventeen  branches,  which  in- 
cluded algebra,  geometry,  chemistry,  physiology  and  astronomy, 


670  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP   THE 

and  ill  twelve  of  them  he  succeeded  in  obtaining  the  maximum  100 
per.  cent.  He  then  obtained  a  position  as  first  assistant  in  the 
First  District  school,  and  after  two  years  was  elected  principal  of 
the  Twelfth  District  school,  being  the  first  Catholic  to  occupy  such 
a  position  in  Cincinnati.  Here  Mr.  Scanlan  achieved  marked  suc- 
cess, and  won  appreciation  from  all  who  were  connected  with  the 
school,  and  even  elicited  flattering  encomiums  from  Mr.  Hancock, 
the  superintendent  of  schools. 

By  this  time  Mr.  Scanlan  had  completed  his  law  course  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar.  However,  in  the  spring  of  1873,  he  was 
offered  a  partnership  in  the  Walnut  Street  Bank,  a  private  insti- 
tution of  Cincinnati,  and  the  proposition  seemed  of  so  advantage- 
ous a  character  that  he  was  constrained  to  accept.  He  was  in  this 
concern  only  a  short  time  when  the  panic  of  '73  came  upon  the 
country,  and  the  bank  experienced  the  hard  times,  suffering  heavy 
loss,  especially  through  the  failure  of  Jay  Cooke  &  Co.,  and  from 
that  year  until  the  resuming  of  specie  payments  in  1878  business 
was  generally  depressed.  Still  the  bank  did  fairly  well,  notwith- 
standing the  depressed  times.  In  1877,  the  senior  partner,  George 
H.  Bussing,  died,  and  the  management  devolved  almost  entirely 
on  Mr.  Scanlan.  There  was  a  general  supposition  that  the  bank 
was  backed  by  Father  Purcell,  the  brother  and  financial  manager 
of  the  Eight  Reverend  John  B.  Purcell,  Archbishop  of  Cincinnati, 
but,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  Father  Purcell  simply  kept  a  large  ac- 
count in  the  bank  as  a  depositor,  and  it  was  he  who  recommended 
Mr.  Scanlan  to  Mr.  Bussing  as  a  partner.  Father  Purcell  was  the 
trusted  advisor  of  a  large  number  of  people,  and  had  himself  been 
taking  deposits  from  them  for  a  number  of  years  and  paying  six 
per  cent  interest  The  business  depression  led  many  to  withdraw 
their  deposits,  and  in  payment  thereof  he  frequently  issued  checks 
upon  the  bank.  About  this  time,  too,  several  banks  which  took 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  671 

savings  deposits  failed,  the  largest  being  the  German  Bank  of  C.  F. 
A  doe  &  Co. 

]{umors  began  to  be  freely  circulated,  questioning  the  ability 
of  Father  Purcell  to  settle  his  liabilities,  causing  a  considerable 
run  to  be  made,  although  for  years  he  had  been  considered  "as 
sound  as  the  Bank  of  England."  Farther  Purcell  drew  heavily  on 
the  Walnut  Street  Bank,  not  only  exhausting  his  own  funds  on 
deposit,  but  also  heavily  overdrawing  his  account,  at  one  time  to 
the  extent  of  thirty  thousand  dollars.  The  bank  was  finally  forced 
to  notify  him  that  no  more  checks  of  his  could  be  paid  while  he  had 
no  funds  on  deposit,  but  still  checks  continued  to  come  in,  until  in 
self-defense  the  bank  had  absolutely  to  refuse  payment.  The  peo- 
ple were  incredulous  when  informed  that  Father  Purcell  had  no 
more  funds,  and  a  suspicion  arose  that  the  refusal  was  caused  by 
the  weakness  of  the  bank.  Finally  Father  Purcell  and  his 
brother,  the  Archbishop,  were  compelled  to  make  an  assignment, 
which  occasioned  the  greatest  consternation  and  distress  through- 
out the  city,  and  developments  soon  proved  that  their  liabilities 
were  nearly  four  million  dollars,  with  assets  exceedingly  small. 
This  fact  occasioned  a.  large  run  on  the  bank,  which,  however, 
withstood  it  all,  and  the  excitement  had  almost  passed  over  when 
a  circumstance  occurred  that  finally  brought  about  a  crisis.  It 
\v;is  in  187!)  that  a  clever  robbery  resulted  in  the  loss  of  $10,000  to 
the  bank,  and,  in  the  sensitive  state  of  public  opinion,  it  was  de- 
rided better  to  keep  the  matter  as  quiet  as  possible.  However,  it 
could  not  be  kept  quiet,  and  newspaper  comment  occasioned  a 
further  run  on  the  bank,  some  people  thinking  the  amount  taken 
much  larger  than  was  actually  the  case,  and  others  believing  it 
was  only  a  made-up  story.  For  a  considerable  time  Mr.  Scanlan 
had  lo  bear  the  burden  of  these  troubles  alone;  finally,  after  con- 
sultation with  the  widow  of  Mr.  Bussing,  who  had  the  largest  in- 
terest in  the  bank,  and  their  attorney,  it  was  decided,  notwith- 

36 


672  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

standing  the  protest  of  Mr.  Scanlan,  to  make  an  assignment  and 
wind  up  the  bank's  affairs. 

In  1875  certain  people  in  Cincinnati  had  taken  in  settlement 
of  a  bad  debt,  mortgages  on  a  tract  of  land-  near  Kensington,  Cook 
County,  Ills.  Some  time  after  the  land  was  taken,  subject  to  a 
large  previous  mortgage,  and  the  title  in  the  name  of  Scanlan  and 
Hand.  Afterwards  it  was  transferred  by  them  to  D.  J.  Fallis  and 
Ilowell  Gano,  and  later,  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Fallis,  to  Gano  and 
Field.  In  1880  it  had  been  reported  that  Mr.  Pullman  was  about 
to  build  his  large  works  in  that  vicinity,  and  Messrs.  Fallis  and 
Gano  deputized  Mr.  Scanlan  to  go  to  Chicago  and  look  up  an  offer 
that  had  been  made  for  purchase  of  the  land.  While  negotiations 
for  the  sale  were  under  way,  subdivision  of  the  land  was  sug- 
gested, and  Mr.  Scanlan  was  requested  to  take  charge  of  the  mat- 
ter, though  he  had  no  previous  experience  in  the  real  estate  busi- 
ness. The  subdivision  of  part  of  the  land  was  made  in  the  fall  of 
1881,  its  management  placed  in  his  hands,  and  since  that  time  Mr. 
Scanlan  has  been  chiefly  occupied  in  laying  out  the  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  making  streets,  planting  trees,  selling  lots,  build- 
ing houses,  collecting,  fete.,  a  new  settlement  being  formed,  which 
grew  with  such  rapidity  under  his  fostering  care  as  to  excite  the 
wonder  of  all.  The  town  was  incorporated  as  the  Village  of  Gano 
in  1888,  and  two  years  later  was  annexed'  to  Chicago.  Though 
when  Mr.  Scaulan  first  took  charge  there  was  not  a  single  person 
living  on  the  property,  at  the  school  census  of  1894  the  population 
was  above  2,400,  thus  attesting  what  can  be  accomplished  under 
the  guidance  and  control  of  a  capable  man.  Its  streets  are  good, 
its  street  railways  connect  with  Chicago  City  Railway,  it  has 
city  water,  fine  stores,  a  church  and  a  handsome  school  house,  just 
completed,  containing  twelve  rooms,  with  all  modern  improve- 
ments, which,  added  to  the  old  school  buildings,  is  called  the  Scan- 
lan school.  Tho  unlimited  confidence  reposed  in  Mr.  Scanlan  by 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  673 

Field  &  Gauo  ami  his  other  old  friends  iu  Cincinnati,  and  the  ad- 
miration they  have  for  his  wonderful  success,  is  constantly  mani- 
fested. Mr.  iScanlan  has  always  been  so  fortunate  as  to  gain  the 
good  will  and  confidence  of  those  with  whom  he  had  dealings;  in 
Springfield,  in  Xeuia  and  in  the  Cincinnati  schools  he  is  still  re- 
membered and  spoken  of  in  the  kindliest  manner;  and  in  Gano, 
among  the  people  of  every  race  and  condition,  he  is  not  looked  on 
as  merely  an  honest  and  kind  hearted  real  estate  agent,  but  rather 
as  a  friend  and  advisor,  to  whom  the  people  come  when  in  trouble 
and  in  want  of  counsel,  and  he  has  been  designated  as  the  Father 
of  Gano. 

When  in  Cincinnati  he  was  a  promoter  of  literary  and  social 
clubs  among  the  Catholics;  he  was  at  one  time  president  of  the 
Central  Catholic  Committee,  composed1  of  delegates  from  every 
Catholic  society,  whose  main  object  was  the  support  of  the  Orphan 
Asylum;  he  was  also  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education;  and  in 
Chicago  he  was  for  a  time  an  active  member  of  the  Columbus 
Club.  Though  thoroughly  independent  in  politics,  he  has  re- 
cently favored  the  platform  of  the  Republican  party.  In  1872  he 
visited  Europe,  devoting  most  of  the  trip  to  England,  Ireland  and 
France. 

In  1876,  Mr.  Scanlau  married  Margaret  Boulger,  the  attractive 
and  amiable  daughter  of  James  Boulger  of  Cincinnati.  Five  chil- 
dren were  the  fruit  of  this  most  happy  union,  four  of  whom  are 
living.  This  lady  died  on  July  7th,  1887,  from  the  result  of  a  sad 
accident  on  the  4th  of  July  preceding,  and  their  once  happy  home 
was  broken  up  and  the  children  scattered.  -Two  years  after  he 
was  again  married,  this  time  to  Joanna  Walker,  a  bright  Chicago 
lady,  who  has  been  a  most  devoted  wife  to  him,  and  there  were  born 
from  this  last  union  two  children,  a  boy  and  a  girl. 

As  a  young  man,  and  indeed  up  to  the  present  time,  Mr.  Scan- 
Ian  has  been  an  ardent  devotee  of  gymnastic  exercise  as  a  means 


674  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

of  development  and  health,  and  still  adheres  to  the  practice.  His 
tastes,  however,  are  largely  literary  and  musical;  for  five  years  he 
acted  as  organist  in  Father  Tighe's  Church  on  Oakland  Boulevard; 
he  is  also  much  interested  in  university  extension,  and  has  been  an 
active  promoter  of  the  Catholic  summer  school. 

At  the  close  of  this  somewhat  comprehensive  sketch,  it  is  al- 
most unnecessary  to  say  that  Mr.  Scanlan  possesses  abilities  of  no 
mean  order,  united  to  a  versatility  of  genius  not  usually  met  with, 
while  to  those  qualities  he  adds  a  perseverance  and  industry  which 
have,  to  a  great  extent,  overcome  all  difficulties.  His  disposition 
is  genial,  his  manner  pleasant  and  invariably  coui'teous,  and  there 
is  consequently  no  reason  for  wonderment  that  he  is  possessed  of 
so  large  a  number  of  devoted  and  appreciative  friends. 


JOHN   J.  CALLAHAN. 

A  representative  of  the  younger  generation  of  American  Irish- 
men of  energetic  mind  and  industrious  habits,  thrifty  in  their 
lives  and  full  of  determination  to  succeed  in  the  world,  is  John 
J.  Callahan. 

He  was  born  in  Chicago,  December  20th,  1865,  and  is  the  son 
of  Patrick  and  Margaret  Callahan,  both  of  whom  are  natives  of 
County  Kerry.  They  had  come  to  America  in  1863,  settling  in 
Chicago,  where  Patrick  Callahan  has  been  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business  since  that  time. 

John  J.  Callahan  received  his  education  at  the  Sacred  Heart 
school  at  West  Eighteenth  Street,  taking  the  ordinary  business 
course  of  studies.  TTis  schooling  over,  he  went  to  work  for  the 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  675 

wholesale  house  of  Field  &  Leiter,  with  which  lie  stayed  for  six 
months  only  in  the  capacity  of  stock  clerk,  then  going  into  the 
lumber  market,  in  which  lie  remained  for  four  years.  For  the 
following  eight  years  he  kept  books  for  Thomas  H.  Lyou,  at  Kobey 
and  Blue  Island  Avenue,  and  then  started  with  the  Globe  Lum- 
ber Company  as  secretary  and  treasurer,  a  position  he  gave  up  two 
years  later,  in  1894,  to  take  one  of  greater  responsibility,  that  of 
President  of  the  same  Company,  which  he  still  retains. 

Mr.  Callahau  is  by  religion  a  Uoman  Catholic.  In  his  political 
views  he  belongs  to  the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  National  Benevolent  League,  in  which  he  holds  the  honorable 
position  of  Treasurer  to  the  Society. 


THOMAS   O'CONNELL. 


The  subject  of  the  present  biographical  sketch,  Thomas  O'Con- 
iiell,  has  for  thirty-eight  years  been  actively  identified  with  the  re- 
markable growth  and  upbuilding  of  Chicago.  He  came  to  this  city 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  practically  without  friends  or  capi- 
tal, and  is  a  splendid  example  of  the  self-made  man,  whose  indom- 
itable will  and  tireless  energy  have  been  rewarded  with  an  honor- 
able position  among  the  foremost  business  men  of  Chicago.  One 
by  one  he  has  forced  aside  the  barriers  that  obstruct  the  way  to  suc- 
cess, until  to-day  he  stands  within  the  charmed  circle,  rich  in  honor 
and  wealth,  one  of  the  most  honored  as  well  as  devoted  sous  of  a 
mighty  city. 

Thomas  O'Connell  was  born  in  Limerick,  Ireland,  February 
15th,  1837,  his  parents  being  John  and  Elizabeth  (Hays)  O'Connell. 


676  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

The  father,  who  in  the  old  country  followed  the  occupation  of  a 
fanner,  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1846,  settling  in  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  engaged  in  coal  mining  and  railroad  building. 
In  1858,  he  came  to  Chicago  and  died  here  in  1881.  At  all  times  he 
had  been  prominent  in  Irish  affairs,  and  according  to  his  means, 
his  purse  had  been  open  to  assist  in  any  movement  whose  purpose 
was  Ireland's  betterment.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  O'Connell,  came  of 
a  good  Cork  family,  and  seven  weeks  after  her  husband  departed 
this  life  she  followed  him  to  the  grave. 

The  subject  of  the  present  sketch  was  but  ten  years  of  age  when 
with  his  parents  he  came  to  the  United  States  and  located  at  Pine 
Grove,  Pa.,  where  he  attended  the  public  schools  until  he  was  six- 
teen years  of  age.  He  then  engaged  with  his  father  in  the  coal 
mining  and  railroad  business,  and  after  the  removal  of  his  parents 
to  Chicago  in  1858  he  accompanied  them,  and  secured  a  position  as 
superintendent  with  the  Chicago  Union  Lime  Works,  remaining 
with  that  concern  for  thirty  years.  In  1890,  he  associated  his  sous 
with  him,  and  the  Keys  &  Thatcher  Quarry  on  the  West  Side  of 
Chicago  was  purchased.  At  that  time  the  income  was  small,  but 
good  management  soon  made  the  quarry  a  very  paying  proposition, 
and  now  the  business  of  the  Artesian  Stone  Co. — which  is  the  cor- 
poration name  of  Mr.  O'Connell's  company,  and  which  deals  in 
crushed  and  building  stone,  lime  and  cement — amounts  to  over  a 
half  a  million  dollars  a  year. 

Mr.  O'Connell  is  in  religion  a  devout  Catholic,  and  belongs  to 
the  congregation  of  St.  Patrick's  Church.  In  his  political  views  he 
has  always  been  a  Democrat,  and,  while  in  no  sense  of  the  word  an 
active  politician,  he  possesses  considerable  influence  in  his  ward, 
and  at  times,  when  he  considers  a  worthy  candidate  is  being  put 
forward  for  an  office,  he  goes  heartily  to  work  in  the  campaign.  lie 
is  a  member,  and  one  highly  valued  and  respected,  of  the  Catholic 
Benevolent  Legion. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  677 

Mr.  O'Connell,  despite  the  heavy  calls  made  upon  his  time  by 
business,  still  finds  sufficient  leisure  to  show  himself  a  public- 
spirited  citizen  and  a  benevolent  and  practical  sympathizer  with 
the  charitable  work  of  this  city,  as  well  as  eager  and  willing  to 
assist  his  brethren  across  the  sea. 

Mr.  O'Connell  married  Miss  Susan  O'Laughlin,  a  native  of 
Clare,  Ireland,  and  who  had  been  raised  in  the  State  of  Wiscon- 
sin. She  was  of  a  prominent  Irish  family,  and  an  uncle  of  hers,  Sir 
Michael  O'Laughlin,  has  held  several  prominent  positions  under 
the  crown  in  Ireland.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  O'Couuell  have  had  a  family 
of  seven  boys  and  one  girl. 


LUKE  OTOOLE. 


Luke  O'Toole,  the  well-known  superintendent  of  Post  Office 
Station  K.,  was  born  in  1848  in  County  Carlow,  Ireland,  of  which 
his  father,  Patrick  O'Toole,  and  his  mother,  were  both  natives. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  education  in  the  national 
schools  of  Ireland,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1868,  when  a 
little  over  nineteen  years  of  age.  lie  settled  in  Chicago,  and  found 
his  first  employment  in  some  brick  yards,  and  later  in  a  packing 
house.  In  187(5,  he  started  in  business  for  himself,  and,  meeting 
with  considerable  success,  retained  until  181)3.  In  that  year  he 
was  appointed  superintendent  of  Station  K.,  by  Post  Master  Hes- 
ing,  taking  charge  January  1st,  1894,  and,  having  carried  out  his 
duties  for  over  three  years  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  public, 
;is  well  as  his  sui>eriors  in  the  department. 

Mr,  O'Toole  is  a  Roman  Catholic  in  his  religious  views,  and  in 
his  political  affiliations  a  Democrat. 


678  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Annie  Brown,  daughter  of  William 
Brown,  a  brick  manufacturer  of  this  city.  They  have  four  children 
living,  two  boys  and  two  girls. 

Of  thoroughly  domestic  tastes,  Mr.  O'Toole  finds  the  best  con- 
tentment and  enjoyment  in  his  own  household;  in  his  official  posi- 
tion he  has  always  been  courteous,  as  well  as  attentive,  and  has 
made  for  himself  a  large  circle  of  friends. 


MILES  JOSEPH  DEVINE. 


As  compared  with  many  of  the  biographies  in  this  work  of  men 
who  have,  in  the  legal  profession,  attained  to  great  eminence  and 
secured  for  themselves  high  reputations,  as  well  as  material  wealth, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  but  a  beginner  in  the  field.  Yet  of 
none  of  the  younger  generation  can  it  be  more  truthfully  said,  that 
the  foundation  for  what  of  success,  of  popularity  and  of  honor  the 
future  has  in  store,  has  been  more  firmly,  perseveriugly  and  with 
greater  Avisdom  laid  than  in  his  case. 

Miles  J.  Devine  is  not  yet  thirty  years  of  age  (he  was  born  at 
Chicago,  November  llth,  1866),  and  has  already  a  large  clientage 
and  a  very  enviable  reputation  as  a  successful  lawyer,  the  first  at- 
tributable to  the  fact  that  from  his  early  boyhood  he  has  possessed 
the  faculty  of  making  and  keeping  friends,  his  life  being  ordered 
and  governed  by  those  principles  which  men  recognize  as  sound, 
just  and  right,  and  the  second  to  the  natural  ability,  enabling  him 
to  quickly  grasp  his  subject,  apply  the  points  of  law  applicable  to 
his  case  with  a  flow  of  eloquence,  a  conviction  of  manner  and  sound- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  681 

uess  of  argument  which  usually  results  in  a  verdict  in  his  favor. 
There  is,  perhaps,  no  man  within  ten  years  of  his  age  whose  reputa- 
tion is  greater  as  a  court  lawyer,  more  especially  in  criminal  cases, 
than  is  Mr.  Devine's  before  the  Chicago  bar. 

His  father  is  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  came  to  America  about 
1846,  when  sixteen  years  of  age.  Patrick  Devine  married,  in  18(51, 
Elizabeth  Couway,  a  sister  of  Very  Rev.  Father  Conway,  Vicar 
General  of  the  Chicago  Diocese,  who  was  born  in  Wexford,  Ireland, 
in  1836.  To  them  have  been  born  nine  children,  of  whom  four  were 
sons.  Three  sons  and  three  daughters,  with  both  their  parents, 
still  survive. 

It  was  the  wish  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Devine  that  Miles  J.  should  be- 
come a  priest  of  the  Holy  Roman  Catholic  Church,  and  his  studies 
until  1885  were  all  directed  to  that  end.  In  1876  Jie  attended  St. 
Patrick's  Brothers'  School,  his  uncle,  Father  Conway,  being  then 
the  priest  of  the  parish.  Later  he  spent  two  years  at  St.  Francis 
Seminary  at  Bay  View,  Wisconsin,  and  for  four  years  he  was  a  stu- 
dent at  the  Seminary  of  Our  Lady  of  Angels,  at  Niagara  Falls,  New 
York.  In  the  latter  year  he  came  to  the  determination  that  he  pos- 
sessed no  vocation  for  the  priesthood,  and  thereafter  his  studies 
were  directed  to  the  law,  which  held  for  him  peculiar  attraction*, 
and,  to  his  ideas,  furnished  a  fitter  field  for  the  employment  of  such 
intellectual  and  oratorical  gifts  as  nature  had  endowed  him  with. 
He  also  attended  Lake  Forest  University,  and  in  1887  entered  tin? 
Chicago  College  of  Law,  from  which  he  graduated  in  June,  1890. 
On  his  admission  to  the  bar,  a  partnership  was  formed  with  Mr.  J. 
B.  O'Connell,  under  the  firm  name  of  Devine  &  O'Connell,  with  of- 
fices in  the  United  States  Express  Building. 

In  1893  Mr.  Devine  was  appointed  Assistant  Prosecuting  Attor- 
ney by  Mayor  Harrison,  and  was  continued  in  this  position  under 
.Mayors  Hopkins  and  Swift  until  August,  1895,  when  he  resigned  in 
the  interest  of  the  increasing  private  practice  of  the  firm.  An 


682  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

enviable  reputation  was  gained  by  Mr.  Devine  in  his  able  conduct 
of  a  number  of  celebrated  cases  which  came  up  for  trial  during  his 
incumbency  of  this  office,  among  which  might  be  named  the  "lumpy 
jaw"  cattle  cases  in  1894,  the  Craig  burglary,  and  the  prosecution  of 
the  cases  for  the  violation  of  the  registration  laws. 

His  practice  is  largely  confined  to  the  criminal  side,  and  in  the 
six  years'  existence  of  the  firm  its  members  have  undertaken  the 
defense  in  no  less  than  eighteen  murder  cases,  Mr.  Devine  having 
charge  of  their  conduct  before  the  courts.  Perhaps  the  most  cele- 
brated of  these  was  the  John  Carrig  case,  which  attracted  public 
attention  to  a  greater  extent  than  any  other  of  a  like  character  in 
recent  years. 

In  politics  Mr.  Devine  is  an  ardent  Democrat,  and  even  as  a 
boy  was  an  active  worker  for  his  party's  interests.  When  sixteen 
years  of  age  he  stumped  Lake,  McHenry  and  Boone  Counties  for  E. 
M.  Raines,  late  Speaker  of  the  Illinois  House  of  Representatives, 
and,  by  his  eloquence  and  the  force  and  power  of  his  argument,  won 
many  votes  for  the  cause,  and  gained  for  himself  the  soubriquet  of 
"The  Boy  Orator."  In  1894  he  was  nominated  on  the  Populist 
ticket  for  Senator  of  the  Fifteenth  Senatorial  District,  but  declined 
the  honor.  He  has  been  a  frequent  delegate  to  city,  county  and 
state  conventions  of  his  party,  among  them  the  state  convention  of 
1894,  which  placed  Franklin  MacVeigh  in  nomination  for  United 
States  Senator.  Last  fall  he  received  the  nomination  of  the  Gold 
Democrats  from  the  Fourth  Congressional  District. 

Mr.  Devine  was  nominated  by  the  Democrats  of  the  City  of  Chi- 
cago for  City  Attorney  at  their  convention  March  llth,  1897,  after 
one  of  the  hottest  campaigns  ever  known  to  political  history.  To 
this  important  office  he  was  elected  by  the  largest  plurality  ever 
given  to  a  candidate  for  this  office,  beating  his  Republican  oppon- 
ent, Roy  O.  West,  the  most  popular  candidate  on  the  Republican 
ticket,  by  nearly  3,800  votes.  ' 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  683 

It  must  also  be  said  of  Mr.  Deviue  that  he  is  a  devoted  advo- 
cate and  worker  for  Ireland's  cause,  and  is  a  member  of  several  of 
the  leading  Irish  societies,  among  them  the  Catholic  Order  of  For- 
esters and  the  Irish  National  Alliance.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  religion  a  Roman  Catholic,  Mr.  Devine 
is,  with  his  family,  a  regular  attendant  of  the  Church  of  the  Holy 
Name,  on  the  West  Side. 

He  was  married  September  20th,  1884,  to  Miss  Emma,  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Ophelia  Gamash,  of  Lake  County,  111.  To  them 
have  been  born  four  children,  as  follows:  Miles  J.,  Paul  P.,  Leo 
Jerome  and  Mabel  Ruth. 


BERNARD  CURTIS. 


Any  representation  of  the  American  Irish  of  this  city  would 
be  strangely  incomplete  were  it  wanting  in  reference  to  this  well- 
known  and  most  highly  respected  old-time  citizen.  He  was  born 
in  County  Louth,  Ireland,  in  1837,  his  parents  being  Patrick  and 
Kate  (Meade)  Curtis.  They  came -to  the  United  States  in  18G8, 
settling  in  Grinnell,  Iowa,  where  Mr.  Curtis  owned  and  operated 
a  farm,  and  moving  later  to  Crestou,  in  the  sa'nie  state,  where 
Patrick  Curtis  died  in  1887,  and  was  followed  by  his  wife  in  1892. 

Mr.  Curtis,  who  was  not  in  his  youth  much  favored  in  the  way 
of  educational  advantages,  for  he  had  to  assist  his  father  on  the 
farm,  attended  the  national  schools  in  Ireland.  When,  however, 
his  majority  was  reached,  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and  taking 
up  railroad  construction  work  for  an  occupation  on  the  Rock  Island 
Railroad,  then  being  built,  until  the  town  of  Grinnell  was  reached, 


684  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP   THE 

where  be  engaged  iu  the  grain  and  lumber  business  until  1872,  at 
which  time  he  decided  to  settle  in  Chicago.  Trading  in  grain  was 
then  taken  up,  and  that  occupation  he  has  since  followed  with 
considerable  success,  and  is  now  an  extensive  operator  on  the 
Board  of  Trade. 

In  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  he  was  married,  in  1868,  to  Catherine  Long, 
and  they  have  had  six  children,  of  whom  there  are  now  five  living, 
four  girls  and  a  sou. 

A  Koinan  Catholic  iu  his  religious  views,  Mr.  Curtis  is  in  his 
politics  as  regards  national  affairs  a  Republican.  He  has  traveled 
extensively  over  the  United  States,  is  a  man  of  considerable  in- 
formation on  all  general  matters  of  interest,  is  generous  and  kindly 
in  his  disposition,  and  in  all  ways  a  true-hearted,  noble  American 
citizen. 


HON.  THOMAS  A.  MORAN. 


Thomas  A.  Morau  is  a  native  of  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  where  his  * 
father,  Patrick  Moran,  a  native  of  Ireland,  was  long  in  business.  He 
was  born  October  7,  1839,  and  was  seven  years  old  when  his  father 
removed,  with  his  family,  to  Bristol,  Kenosha  County,  Wis.,  and 
became  a  farmer  iu  the  midst  of  that  then  new  country.  As  a  boy 
and  youth  he  aided  in  the  work  of  carrying  on  the  farm  until  he 
was  nineteen,  going  to  school  as  circumstances  favored,  usually  dur- 
ing the  winter  months.  Meantime  lie  read  all  the  books  at  hand, 
and  in  a  general  way  availed  himself  to  the  utmost  of  every  means 
of  mental  improvement  at  his  command.  lie  supplemented  his 
common  school  education  by  several  terms'  attendance  at  Liberty 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  685 

Academy,  at  Salem,  three  miles  from  his  home,  and  then  engaged 
for  a  time  in  teaching  school.  He  took  an  active  and  prominent  part 
in  debating  ''clubs"  and  "schools,"  and  achieved  more  than  a  merely 
local  reputation  as  an  apt,  ready,  and  well-informed  debater.  When 
about  twenty  years  old,  he  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of 
J.  J.  Pettit,  at  Kenosha,  continuing  under  the  direction  of  Judge 
I.  W.  Webster.  He  paid  his  expenses  during  this  period  principally 
by  school  teaching.  In  1862,  owing  to  the  illness  of  his  father,  young 
Moran  returned  to  the  farm  and  managed  it  for  a  season,  and  dur- 
ing that  year  the  father  died;  the  farm  was  sold  and  the  family 
removed  to  Kenosha.  In  1864  his  mother  died,  and  in  the  fall  of 
that  year  the  young  man  entered  the  institution  now  known  as  the 
Albany  Law  School,  at  New  York,  where  he  was  graduated  in  May, 
1865,  when  he  was  admitted  to  practice.  As  a  student,  Judge 
Moran  foreshadowed  his  brilliant  success  at  the  bar,  and  high  hon- 
ors were  predicted  for  him  by  members  of  the  faculty,  with  whom, 
as  with  his  fellow  students,  his  personal  traits  made  him  popular. 
In  November,  1865,  he  came  to  Chicago  and  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession,  for  a  time  in  the  office  of  II.  S.  Monroe.  Later 
he  was  a  member  successively  of  the  firms  of  Schoff  &  Moran,  Moran 
&  English,  and  Moran,  English  &  Wolf,  and  he  was  at  the  head  of 
that  last  mentioned  when  he  was  elevated  to  the  bench.  During 
this  period  of  fourteen  years  the  court  calendars  and  the  books  of 
his  own  office  showed  most  conclusively  that  he  had  a  greater  num- 
ber of  cases  in  the  courts  of  record  than  any  other  lawyer  at  the 
bar.  While  his  practice  was  general,  he  was  so  especially  successful 
in  jury  trials  that  two  of  the  most  eminent  judges  of  the  Circuit 
Bench  pronounced  him  one  of  the  most  powerful  jury  lawyers  at 
this  bar.  The  practice  in  debate  and  oratory  in  which  he  so  de- 
lighted and  excelled  in  his  youth,  and  his  experience  in  the  courts, 
gave  him  fluency  of  speech,  ready  command  of  language,  accuracy 
of  expression  and  grace  in  diction,  which  combined  to  make  him 


686  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

a  notably  forceful  anil  eloquent  advocate — terse,  logical,  vigorous, 
and  often  ornate.  His  energy,  industry,  patience,  sagacity,  and  in- 
tellectual compass  and  vitality  made  him  an  opponent  to  be  both 
dreaded  and  respected  in  any  case  in  which  he  was  actively  con- 
cerned. 

In  the  fall  of  1879  he  was  elected  a  judge  of  the  Circuit  Court 
of  Cook  County  for  a  term  of  six  years.  He  was  re-elected  in  1885 
and  again  in  1891.  After  having  served  with  great  distinction 
seven  years  as  judge  of  the  Circuit  Court,  he  was  assigned  by  the 
Supreme  Court,  in  accordance  with  the  statutory  provision,  to  the 
judgeship  of  the  Appellate  Court  of  the  First  District  of  Illinois, 
and  served  in  that  position  until  he  resigned  his  office  in  March, 
1892.  His  record  as  an  appellate  judge,  in  the  estimation  of  the 
bar  of  northern  Illinois,  is  not  surpassed  by  that  of  any  other  judge 
of  that  court.  So  uniformly  were  his  opinions  based  upon  the 
soundest  legal  and  equitable  principles,  so  much  in  accordance  were 
they  with  the  spirit  of  our  institutions  and  civilization,  and  so  logi- 
cal, condensed  and  correct  were  they  that  often  they  were  adopted 
as  the  language  of  the  Supreme  Court.  His  experience  as  a  judge 
embraced  the  common  law,  chancery,  and  criminal  branches  of  the 
court,  in  each  of  which  he  achieved  honor  and  won  the  commenda- 
tion of  the  bar  and  the  public.  Always  self-contained  and  self- 
poised,  of  patient  and  courteous  bearing,  an  attentive,  careful,  and 
most  respectful  listener,  even  to  the  humblest  pleader,  he  dis- 
charged his  high  functions  without  ostentation  and  with  conspicu- 
ous ability.  Since  his  voluntary-  withdrawal  from  the  bench  and  his 
resumption  of  private  practice,  his  great  professional  learning  and 
ability  have  connected  him  with  many  of  the  most  important  cases 
which  have  appeared  before  the  courts.  He  is  now  in  the  full  vigor 
of  his  genius.  At  the  present  time  Judge  Moran  is  the  head  of  the 
well-known  firm  of  Moran,  Kraus  &  Mayer  (Thomas  A.  Moran, 
Adolph  Kraus,  and  Isaac  H.  and  Levy  Mayer),  with  offices  at  836 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  687 

Unity  Building:.  In  politics  be  has  been  a  lifelong  Democrat,  in- 
fluential as  such,  but  never  an  aspirant  for  any  political  office.  He 
bejja.ii  his  political  career  as  a  mere  stripling,  an  ardent  admirer 
of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  and  in  full  accord  with  the  liberal  Democ- 
racy of  which  that  eminent  statesman  was  the  champion — and  he 
has  been  one  of  the  strong,  wise  spirits  of  his  party  from  that  day 
to  this;  always  conservative,  yet  patriotic,  working  with  voice,  pen, 
and  influence,  through  victory  and  defeat,  with  singular  consis- 
tency, for  the  public  good  along  the  lines  of  public  policy  he  has 
been  constrained  to  indorse  and  to  advocate. 

He  has  been  one  of  the  most  prominent,  useful,  and  active  mem- 
bers the  Iroquois  (Tub  has  had  since  it  was  first  founded  as  the 
exponent  of  the  local  Democracy.  He  was  also  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Sheridan  Club  and  of  the  Catholic  Library  Association,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Columbus  Club  and  of  the  Bar  Association. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  in  1868  to  Miss  Josephine  Quinn,  of 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  by  her  is  the  father  of  eight  children  living: 
Alice,  Thomas  W.  (now  a  student  of  law  in  his  father's  office),  Mar- 
garet, John  P.,  Eugene,  Josephine,  Arthur,  and  Kathryn.  The 
judge  and  his  family  reside  at  Forty-seventh  Street  and  Vincennes 
Avenue. 


JOHN    F.   CREMIN. 

This  gentleman  conies  fairly  within  the  representative  class 
of  younger  men,  who  in  Chicago  have  most  successfully  developed 
and  administered  real  estate  interests  of  the  first  importance.  Al- 
though but  just  now  in  the  very  prime  of  life,  Mr.  Cremln,  of  the 
well-known  and  responsible  firm  of  Cremin  &  Brenan,  has  been 


688  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

fully  abreast  of  the  ever-varying  tide  of  real  estate  values  and  real 
estate  changes  within  the  phenomenal  modern  growth  of  Chicago 
for  the  last  seventeen  years.  In  the  management  and  disposition 
of  the  interests  committed  to  his  care,  he  has  steadily  and  legiti- 
mately achieved  a  prominence  as  a  citizen  and  professional  man 
which  is  an  indisputable  proof,  alike  of  worthy  ambition,  untir- 
ing industry  and  unswerving  integrity.  It  is  a  place  in  the  esti- 
mation of  his  fellow  citizens  rarely  gained  within  a  comparatively 
short  space  of  time  and  which  is  not  only  a  just  source  of  pride 
to  the  members  of  his  family  and  his  most  intimate  associates,  but 
also  of  gratification  to  his  many  friends  and  well  wishers  in  Chi- 
cago. 

John  F.  Cremin,  son  of  Joseph  Wallace  and  Anne  (Carroll)  Cre- 
min,  was  born  in  New  York  City  June  23,  1856.  After  graduating 
from  the  public  school  he  finished  his  education  with  the  Jesuits. 
On  July  1,  1878,  he  was  married  in  New  York  to  Miss  Kathrine 
Muldoon,  daughter  of  the  well-known  builder  of  that  name.  In 
1880  he  came  west,  settled  in  Chicago  and  started  in  the  real 
estate  business  in  the  old  Chamber  of  Commerce  Building,  and 
about  twelve  years  ago  formed  a  partnership  with  lion.  Thomas 
Brenan  under  the  firm  name  of  Cremin  &  Brenan,  which  partner- 
ship still  continues  and  constitutes  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
and  highly  reputable  firms  in  this  city.  They  have  been  connected 
with  many  of  the  large  down-town  sales  and  leases,  and  have  sub- 
divided and  improved  hundreds  of  acres  on  the  west  side  between 
Garfield  Park  and  Oak  Park.  Mr.  Cremin  resides  in  his  handsome 
and  elegantly  appointed  home  in  Austin,  and  prizes  above  all 
things  in  life  the  society  of  his  interesting  family,  which  includes 
six  children.  He  sustained,  an  irreparable  loss  in  the  death  of  a 
daughter  in  the  spring  of  1895,  a  beautiful  girl  of  fifteen,  who  was 
highly  accomplished  and  blessed  with  a  sweet  and  sunny  disposi- 
tion, which  made  her  the  idol  of  all  who  knew  her. 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  689 

Mr.  Cremin  is  a  member  of  the  Chicago  Real  Estate  Board,  the 
Chicago  Fire  Underwriters'  Association  and  the  Columbus  Club, 

• 

and  is  an  active  and  zealous  member,  ever  working  for  the  best 
interests  of  the  organization  in  every  one  of  them.  In  distinctively 
Irish-American  social  societies  of  the  best  sort,  he  has  always  taken 
a  prominent  part,  both  as  member  and  patron,  and  he  will  long  be 
remembered  as  one  of  the  most  active  and  popular  spirits  in  the 
pleasant  and  influential  Irish-American  Club,  which  crystallized 
within  its  membership  so  many  well-known  and  congenial  Irish- 
Americans  of  Chicago  several  years  ago. 

In  the  prime  of  life,  and  in  the  full  strength  of  his  best  years, 
John  F.  Cremin  has  attained  a  commercial  success  and  a  wide- 
spread popularity  which  in  every  way  has  been  well  deserved. 


PATRICK   B.    FLANAGAN. 

The  subject  of  this  short  sketch,  who  is  a  member  of  the  legal 
confraternity,  was  born  October  4,  1858,  at  Ballinameen,  near 
Boyle,  County  Roscommon,  Ireland,  and  came  to  this  country  in 
May,  1881.  Of  his  parents,  Bryan  and  Mary-  (Banalian)  Flanagan, 
the  father  owned  and  carried  on  a  farm  in  Ballinameen  until  his 
death  in  1887,  and  the  mother  followed  him  to  the  grave  three 
years  later.  The  family  it*  of  good  stock  and  for  two  hundred  or 
three  hundred  years  has  had  a  place  in  the  county. 

Patrick  B.  Flanagan  received  his  early  education*  in  the  Na- 
tional schools  of  his  native  village,  afterwards  attending  the  col- 
legiate school  at  Elphin  and  then  at  Castlerea.  In  the  latter 
town  he  graduated,  and  for  twelve  months  thereafter  was  assistant 

37 


690  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

school  teacher  under  his  brother  at  Treen,  near  Castlerea,  He 
gave  up  this  position  and  came  to  the  United  States,  settling  in 
Newark,  New  Jersey,  and  finding  employment  as  shipping  clerk 
in  Cummings  Bros.'  leather  factory.  After  spending  some  time 
in  Newark,  he  came  to  Chicago,  where  he  obtained  a  position  as 
conductor  with  the  Chicago  City  Railway  Company.  In  1888  he 
resigned  his  position  with  the  railway  company  to  accept  the  sec- 
retaryship of  the  South  Side  Street  Car  Men's  Association.  Thence 
he  received  an  appointment  under  Mayor  Cregier  in  the  office  of 
the  City  Collector,  and  later  went  into  the  Sheriff's  office  as  bailiff 
in  Judge  Shepard's  court,  and  then  in  Judge  Baker's  court. 
While  in  the  latter  he  attended  the  Kent  College  of  Law,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1895.  During  the  strike  of  1894,  he  resigned 
his  position  in  the  sheriff's  office  rather  than  take  a  rifle  against 
men  struggling  for  their  rights  and  accepted  a  position  as  book- 
keeper at  the  Fourteenth  Street  Pumping  Station.  Having  grad- 
uated from  the  law  school,  this  was  resigned  and  he  commenced  to 
practice  in  the  Ashland  Block  under  the  firm  name  of  Mahoney, 
McCallum  &  Flanagan. 

In  his  profession  Mr.  Flanagan  has  handled  a  number  of  highly 
important  cases  and  has  been  peculiarly  successful.  One  case  in 
particular  may  be  cited,  in  which  a  man  named  Conlan,  who  was 
in  the  saloon  business,  died  leaving  an  estate  of  $10,000  and  with 
no  heirs  in  the  city.  A  wholesale  firm,  who  had  been  given  a  trust 
deed  to  this  property  to  secure  the  payment  of  a  bill  of  goods 
amounting  to  |2,300  made  an  endeavor  to  collect  through  the  Pro- 
bate Court,  and  also  by  foreclosure  proceedings  under  their  deed. 
Mr.  Flanagan  with  much  difficulty  succeeded  in  discovering  that 
the  trust  deed  in  question  was  given  as  security  for  the  bill  of 
goods,  the  payment  for  which  had  already  been  allowed  by  the 
Probate  Court,  and  after  a  hard  legal  battle  defeated  the  fore- 
closure proceedings. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  691 

Mr.  Flanagan  was  married  in  Chicago  in  1886,  to  Anna  G.  Mar- 
tin, a  Wisconsin  lady  whose  father  a.nd  three  children  served  in  the 
Union  Army  throughout  the  war.  They  have  four  children,  Mary, 
John,  Bernard  and  Kathleen. 

lie  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  of  which 
lie  has  been  county  president  for  four  years,  and  by  whom,  at  the 
end  of  his  second  term,  he  was  complimented  with  the  presenta- 
tion of  a  gold  medal  and  emblem  of  the  order.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Parnell  Literary  Social  Club,  president  of  St.  Anne's  C. 
T.  A.  S.,  treasurer  of  the  Irish-American  Lyceum,  and  for  two 
terms  was  archon  of  Wentworth  Council,  128,  Royal  League. 

A  thorough  Irishman,  an  honorable  gentleman,  a  sound  lawyer 
and  a  good  friend,  Mr.  Flanagan  possesses  thousands  of  friends 
throughout  Chicago. 


HUGH  O'NEILL. 


Although  only  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  Hugh  O'Neill  has  a 
reputation  as  a  lawyer,  a  writer  and  a  speaker.  He  was  born  at 
Magherafelt,  County  Derry,  Ireland,  in  October,  1870.  He  spent 
his  youth  in  that  most  beautiful  valley  lying  between  the  Slieve 
Galleon  range  of  mountains  on  one  side  and  the  Antrim  range  of 
mountains  on  the  other,  with  Lough  Neagh,  the  largest  lake  in  the 
British  Islands,  lying  in  the  center,  while  crystal  rivers  flowed  from 
the .  mountain  sides  between  primrosed  banks  and  wooded  dells. 
The  sublime  beauty  of  the  scenery  had  much  to  do  with  the  forma- 
tion of  his  character  and  literary  tastes.  The  green  grass,  the 
crystal  waters,  the  flowery  mead,  the  rich  flora  and  foliage  of  the 


692  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OP    THE 

groves,  the  sublimity  of  the  mountain  scenery  impressed  them- 
selves on  his  young  mind  and  have  given  to  his  style  that  peculiar 
charm  that  makes  him  pleasing  as  a  public  speaker,  a  writer  and 
a  conversationalist. 

He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Ireland  and  at  the  University 
of  Notre  Dame.  He  received  the  degrees  of  A.  B.,  LL.  B.,  B.  L.,  and 
LL.  M.  Besides  finishing  his  classical,  literary  and  law  courses,  he 
studied  surveying,  engineering  and  medicine.  While  in  Ireland 
he  took  an  active  part  in  the  Irish  Home  Rule  movement  as  a 
writer  and  speaker.  While  at  Notre  Daine  University  he  spoke 
on  Ireland  and  wrote  many  articles  on  the  struggles  of  Ireland  for 
liberty. 

In  1892  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Chicago,  and  after  prac- 
ticing for  some  time  alone,  he  entered  into  a  partnership  with  Mr.  L. 
Bastrup,  a  well-known  lawyer,  and  the  firm  of  Bastrup  &  O'Neill* 
has  now  a  fine  suite  of  offices  in  the  Reaper  Block.     The  firm  has 
a  good  standing  at  the  bar  and  commands  a  lucrative  practice. 

Mr.  O'Neill  delivered  an  oration  on  "Ireland  and  Liberty"  in 
Central  Music  Hall,  Chicago,  on  the  17th  of  March,  1897.  His  fine 
delivery,  his  mastery  of  the  subject  and  graceful  manner  made 
him  master  of  his  auditors.  His  speeches  on  the  money  question, 
labor  problem  and  American  ideas  in  modern  civilization  have  the 
ring  of  true  gold.  His  essays,  speeches  and  orations  show  deep, 
broad  thought  and  clear  style. 

As  a  lawyer  he  has  a  good  standing  at  the  bar.  His  eloquence, 
his  strong  personality,  his  constructive  ability,  his  knowledge  of 
human  affairs,  his  liberal  education,  his  sway  over  men's  minds, 
his  tact  as  an  advocate,  have  given  him  a  high  place  among  law- 
yers. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Columbus  Club  and  belongs  to  many 
fraternal  organizations. 

His  family  in  Ireland  has  always  taken  an  active  part  on  behalf 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  693 

of  their  country's  cause,  and  he  inherits  the  patriotism  of  his  race 
and  family.  Gifted  as  a  talker,  thorough  as  a  scholar,  energetic 
as  a  student  and  a  worker,  true  as  a  friend,  he  is  destined  to  reflect 
honor  on  himself  and  his  race. 


JAMES  MAHONEY. 


James  Mahoney,  though  only  thirty-four  years  of  age,  has  made 
such  rapid  progress  and  attained  such  marked  success  in  the  live 
stock  business  that  he  is  now  president  of  the  Standard  Live  Stock 
Commission  Company.  He  was  born  in  Chicago  September  11, 
1863,  and  is  the  son  of  the  well-known  William  Mahoney,  who 
came  from  Cork,  Ireland,  in  1847,  and  settled  in  Chicago  as  a 
live  stock  dealer.  His  father  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
four,  and  has  been  retired  from  business  ten  years.  His  wife, 
mother  of  James,  was  Honorah  Hannan  and  a  native  of  County 
Limerick,  Ireland.  They  were  married  in  Chicago  in  1848,  and  had 
eleven  children,  four  of  whom  are  living,  the  eldest,  David  Joseph, 
is  chief  of  one  of  the  city  fire  departments ;  Thomas  is  a  live  stock 
dealer  and  connected  with  the  Cumberland  Packing  Company; 
Daniel  is  buyer  of  stock  for  Swift  &  Co.,  and  James,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  latter  mentioned  was  educated  at  St.  Ignatius 
College  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  started  in  his  life 
work,  assisting  his  father  for  a  time  in  the  live  stock  business.  He 
then  bought  hogs  for  five  years  for  the  Anglo-American  Packing 
Co.,  and  for  six  years  filled  the  same  position  for  Swift  &  Co.  He 
resigned  from  the  latter  firm  to  become  president  of  the  Standard 


694  BIOGRAPHICAL,   HISTORY    OF    THE 

Live  Stock  Commission  Company,  which  concern  was  organized 
about  four  years  ago,  and  has  achieved  considerable  success. 

Mr.  Mahoney  has  been  a  member  of  the  Sheridan  Club  from  its 
organization.  He  has  traveled  extensively  through  the  west  in 
the  interest  of  the  stock  business.  He  is  a  Roman  Catholic  in  re- 
ligion and  in  politics  is  a  Democrat,  though  usually  voting  for  his 
friends  and  for  whom  he  considers  the  best  man  regardless  of 
party. 

October  16,  1889,  Mr.  Mahoney  married  Miss  Lydia  Maeny, 
daughter  of  Phillip  Maeny,  an  old  resident  of  Chicago.  They  have 
had  two  children,  neither  of  whom  is  living. 

Mr.  Mahoney  is  domestic  in  his  tastes,  though  fond  of  athletic 
sports.  Now  in  his  early  prime,  with  a  sound  constitution,  ener- 
getic disposition  and  good  business  ability,  unquestionably  his  al- 
ready successful  and  honorable  career  will  continue  and  enlarge. 
It  may  be  added  that  his  genial  temper  and  invariable  courtesy 
have  secured  him  a  number  of  warm  friends  and  well  wishers. 


REV.  THOMAS  BURKE. 


Father  T.  Burke,  the  pastor  of  St.  ColumbkilPs  Parish,  and  one 
of  the  best  known  and  most  highly  respected  priests  in  the  Arch- 
diocese of  Chicago,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Tipperary,  Ireland, 
December  20th,  1827.  His  father  was  born  at  Benroa  at  foot  of 
Cromwell  Hill,  in  the  parish  of  Hospital,  County  Limerick,  and  his 
mother,  Mary  (Cahill)  Burke,  was  a  native  of  Ballyboy,  parish  of 
Upper  Church,  County  Tipperary.  Three  of  his  uncles  were  priests 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  695 

and  two  aunts  nuns  in  the  Presentation  Convent  at  Waterford.  His 
father  left  the  town  of  Tipperary  in  1842,  being  elected  master  of 
the  workhouse,  but  gave  it  up  and  with  his  family  came  to  America 
in  1849. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  had  begun  his  studies  in  Thurles 
College,  Tipperary,  and  completed  at  St.  Mary's  College  on  the  Lake, 
Chicago.  Ordained  a  priest  July  4th,  1857,  by  Bishop  O'Regan  at 
old  St.  Mary's  Church,  afterwards  destroyed  by  fire,  on  Wabash 
Avenue  near  Madison,  he  remained  there  five  years  and  then  came, 
February  2nd,  1862,  to  St.  Columbkill's.  What  has  been  done  since 
in  his  parish  by  this  zealous  and  most  energetic  priest,  belongs  to 
the  history  of  Catholicism  in  Chicago. 

A  few  words  in  regard  to  St.  Columbkill's  Parish  will  not  be 
out  of  place.  Founded  in  1858  under  the  pastorate  of  Father  Ward, 
on  his  death  the  Rev.  Father  Keuney  succeeded  until  the  latter  too 
passed  away  and  the  Rev.  Father  Thomas  Burke  was  assigned 
charge  February  2nd,  1862.  The  original  church  was  a  small  frame 
building,  yet  in  proportion  with  the  population  it  was  equally  as 
commodious  as  is  the  present  edifice  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
present  demands  of  the  developed  parish.  Father  Burke  saw  the 
inadequacy  of  the  church  as  it  was  and  set  out  at  once  to  make 
additions.  Gradually  the  needed  work  was  done,  the  debts  paid  off 
and  fifteen  lots,  including  the  present  site  of  the  church,  purchased. 
The  parochial  residence  was  built  soon  afterwards  at  a  cost  of 
|17,000  and  then  the  convent  adjoining,  which  is  in  charge  of  Sister 
Gertrude  as  Superior.  Further  extensions  became  necessary  and  in 
1871  a  beginning  was  made  and  the  present  edifice  was  completed 
in  1877  at  a  cost  of  f  170,000.  It  is  of  Illinois  stone,  built  in  the 
most  substantial  manner,  and  has  a  seating  capacity  of  three  thou- 
sand. 

Business  tact  and  considerable  executive  ability  as  well  as  much 
ingenuity  were  required  to  build  up  the  parish  and  to  raise  the 


696  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

needed  funds  and  the  greater  portion  of  all  this  work  fell  upon 
Father  Burke.  He  has  never  recognized  any  such  word  as  fail,  and 
his  parish  is  not  only  entirely  out  of  debt,  but  is  fully  equipped 
for  further  advancement. 


JOHN  A.  QUALEY. 

Typical  of  the  ambition  and  energy  so  often  found  in  those  of 
the  Irish  race  in  the  United  States,  is  the  active  life  of  John  A. 
Qualey.  Student,  lawyer,  and  promoter  of  large  enterprises,  he 
has  always  been  well  to  the  front  in  anything  undertaken.  While 
yet  a  young  man,  he  has  worthily  earned  the  distinction  of  being 
entitled  a  thorough-going,  active  man  of  affairs  and  likewise,  as 
the  term  goes,  a  thorough  man  of  the  world.  Not  only  well  known 
in  Chicago,  he  is  and  always  has  been  warmly  esteemed  by  all  who 
know  him,  but  his  success  in  life  is  something  in  the  anticipation 
and  accomplishment  of  which  a  host  of  friends  share.  John  A. 
Qualey  was  born  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  his  father,  John  Qua- 
ley, settled  in  1832.  His  mother  was  a  member  of  the  Nevins  fam- 
ily, Julia  (Nevins)  Qualey.  Mr.  Qualey's  father  helped  materially 
to  erect  the  first  English  speaking  church  (Catholic)  in  Columbus, 
in  the  early  40's.  Mr.  Qualey  was  a  well  educated  man  and  fol- 
lowed pharmacy  in  his  early  youth,  afterwards  engaging  in  the 
wholesale  boot  and  shoe  business  in  Columbus.  The  old  family 
home  in  Ireland  of  the  Qualeys  was  confiscated  in  '98  and  has 
been,  and  is  now  occupied  by  the  St.  Georges.  A  beautiful  marble 
monument  stands  over  the  family  plot  in  Freshford  erected  by  Mr. 
Qualey's  father  and  his  uncle  William  in  the  60's.  The  name  was 
originally  spelled  "Quealey,"  and  it  is  believed  to  have  been  orig- 
inally O'Kelly. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  699 

John  A.  Qualey's  education  was  commenced  in  the  parochial 
schools  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  the  Columbus  Academy,  and  he 
afterwards  attended  and  graduated  from  St.  Mary's  College,  Day- 
ton, O.  From  early  youth  he  evinced  a  desire  to  fit  himself  thor- 
oughly for  professional  life,  and  after  leaving  college  entered  the 
law  office  of  English  &  Baldwin,  at  Columbus,  O.,  under  the  spe- 
cial tutorage  of  William  Baldwin,  an  old  friend  of  his  father.  He 
was  a  graduate  of  Yale  and  an  able  jurist  and  for  thirty  years  one 
of  the  leaders  of  the  Ohio  bar.  Mr.  Qualey  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
by  the  Supreme  Court  of  Ohio  in  1885.  He  was  elected  clerk  of 
the  Senate  in  the  following  year  and  appointed  private  secretary 
to  Lieut.-Governor  John  G.  Warinch  in  1887,  practicing  law  in  Co- 
lumbus in  the  meantime.  Leaving  Columbus,  Mr.  Qualey  came  to 
Chicago  with  letters  of  introduction,  particularly  one  from  the 
noted  Hon.  Allen  G.  Thurman  to  ex-Senator  James  R.  Doolittle  of 
Wisconsin,  resident  and  practicing  law  in  Chicago.  Soon  after  his 
arrival  here,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Illinois  bar  by  the  Supreme 
Court,  remaining  with  Senator  Doolittle  for  about  a  year.  There- 
upon he  formed  a  connection  with  the  noted  lawyer,  W.  S.  Forrest, 
remaining  with  him  until  after  the  famous  Cronin  trial.  Subse- 
quently he  formed  the  legal  firm  of  Wing,  Carter  &  Qualey. 

With  the  well  known  contractor  Mr.  Joseph  S.  Qualey,  he  organ- 
ized the  Qualey  Construction  Company  and  contracted  with  the 
Drainage  Board  to  build  section  "Five"  of  the  great  Drainage 
Canal,  an  undertaking  involving  the  expenditure  of  nearly  $1,000,- 
000.  At  the  present  writing  Mr.  Qualey  is  president  of  the  Trust 
Mutual  Life  Association  of  Pennsylvania,  and  his  ever  active  inter- 
est in  mining  is  represented  by  his  identification  with  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Copper  Company,  of  which  he  is  the  president.  Notwith- 
standing the  manifold  duties  involved  in  holding  these  positions, 
he  nevertheless  finds  time  to  keep  in  the  practice  of  his  chosen  pro- 
fession at  the  Philadelphia  bar. 


700  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

February  12th,  1889,  Mr.  Qualey  married  Miss  Elizabeth  F. 
Lally,  the  oldest  daughter  of  Mr.  John  Lally  of  the  Chicago  Board 
of  Trade  and  a  commission  merchant  for  the  past  thirty-five  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Qualey  have  at  present  two  children,  St.  Bertrand 
Qualey  and  Florence  Elizabeth  Qualey. 

Our  subject  has  been  a  good  deal  of  a  traveler  and  is  literally 
familiar  with  every  part  of  the  United  States,  having  crossed  the 
continent  fully  thirty  times  or  more. 

Many  qualities  unite  in  John  A.  Qualey  to  account  for  his  gen- 
eral popularity  and  his  many  friends.  A  life  long  Roman  Catholic, 
he  is  absolutely  without  religious  prejudice  and  of  broad  a.nd  lib- 
eral views;  a  consistent  Democrat,  he  takes  a  broad  latitude  of 
view  in  relation  to  men  nominated  by  the  party  and  the  principles 
and  platform  they  represent.  A  clear  thinker  and  forcible  speaker, 
endowed  with  the  graces  of  natural  oratory,  Mr.  Qualey  is  and  ever 
has  been  not  only  a  convincing  and  a  brilliant  advocate  at  the  bar 
but  a  welcome  speaker  at  the  clubs  and  in  society.  His  life  so  far 
has  been  well  filled. 


HON.  D.  G.  RAMSAY. 

IJou.  D.  G.  Ramsay,  attorney  at  law  and  late  member  of  the  Illi- 
nois Legislature,  was  born  near  Martiusville,  111.,  October  29th, 
1864.  His  parents,  William  and  Eliza  Ramsay,  were  both  natives 
of  Letterkeuny,  County  Donegal,  Ireland.  When  twenty-four  years 
of  age  Judge  Ramsay,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  came 
to  this  country  and  entered  into  the  mercantile  business,  returning 
to  Ids  boyhood  home  in  Ireland  a  couple  of  years  later  for  his  bride. 
For  upwards  of  half  a  century  they  made  their  home  in  Clark  Coun- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  701 

ty,  Illinois.  Although  he  was  a  lawyer  and  presided  for  more  than 
twenty  years  as  Justice,  he  was  more  widely  and  generally  known 
as  a  merchant.  Both  he  and  his  wife  reached  an  old  age  and  are 
buried  side  by  side  at  Martinsville,  111. 

The  first  work  of  D.  G.  Ramsay  was  when  a  child  selling 
matches;  later  newspapers  and  various  notions  were  added  to  the 
stock  in  ti'ade,  which  pursuit  was  soon  abandoned  to  take  advant- 
age of  a  few  months'  schooling.  lie  commenced  railroading  on  the 
"Vandalia  Line"  when  but  a  boy,  driving  the  horse  at  the  water 
tank;  later  he  became  messenger  at  the  station,  where  he  learned 
telegraphy  and  was  then  placed  in  charge  of  an  office.  For  about 
seven  years  he  followed  railroading,  during  which  time  he  worked 
in  nearly  all  the  large  telegraph  offices  on  the  road,  and  for  a  couple 
of  years  did  clerical  work  in  the  East  St.  Louis  freight  office  of  the 
line. 

While  filling  the  position  of  telegrapher  in  one  of  the  offices  of 
the  Vandalia  Line  in  East  St.  Louis  he  began  the  study  of  law. 
Afterwards  he  resigned  his  position  with  the  company  and  accept- 
ed a  position  in  the  law  and  real  estate  offices  of  the  late  ex-Mayor 
John  B.  Bowman.  lie  also  served  two  years  as  assistant  cashier 
of  the  East  St.  Louis  Bank,  and  in  the  meantime  attended  law 
school  at  McKendree  College,  where  he  graduated  with  honors. 
Law  was  practiced  by  him  in  East  St.  Louis  for  four  years,  during 
which  time  he  distinguished  himself  and  built  up  an  enviable  repu- 
tation as  an  attorney.  In  the  fall  of  1890  he  was  elected  representa- 
tive to  the  Thirty-seventh  General  Assembly  of  the  Illinois  Legis- 
lature, lie  was  one  of  the  famous  "101" — the  Democrats  who  voted 
for  General  Palmer  first,  last  and  all  the  time  for  United  States 
Senator,  and  finally  lifted  their  candidate  into  the  coveted  office. 

At  the  sixth  annual  session  of  the  Grand  Division  of  the  Order 
of  Itiiilroad  Telegraphers,  which  was  held  at  St.  Louis  in  June,  1891, 
at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  his  many  friends,  Mr.  Kamsay  consent- 


702  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 

ed,  although  he  had  no  personal  desire  for  the  position,  to  be  a  can- 
didate for  the  office  of  Assistant  Grand  Chief  Telegrapher.  He  was 
elected,  and  before  the  close  of  his  term  assumed  charge  as  Acting 
Grand  Chief,  because  of  the  resignation  of  the  Grand  Chief,  Hon. 
A.  D.  Thurston. 

At  the  seventh  annual  session  of  the  order  held  in  Chatta- 
nooga in  May,  1892,  he  was  unanimously  elected  Grand  Chief,  and 
at  the  next  annual  convention,  held  at  Toronto,  Canada,  in  May, 

1893,  was  again  unanimously  re-elected,  being  succeeded  at  the 
annual  convention  held  at  Denver  in  May,  1894,  by  the  present  in- 
cumbent, Grand  Chief  Powell. 

His  great  executive  ability  and  former  business  experience  ac- 
crued to  the  benefit  of  the  Order  in  his  official  relationship,  and  his 
administration  was  in  consequence  characterized  by  great  activity. 
Within  less  than  two  years'  time  the  organization  increased  in  mem- 
bership more  than  three-fold. 

After  retiring  from  the  executive  chair  of  the  O.  R.  T.  in  May, 

1894,  he  located  in  Chicago  on  July  llth  and  resumed  the  practice 
of  law.    Within  a  few  months  thereafter  he  accepted  the  office  of 
Assistant  State's  Attorney,  which  he  filled  until  March  6th  of  the 
present  year,  when  he  resigned  to  again  take  up  the  private  practice 
of  law.    While  Assistant  State's  Attorney  he  proved  himself  to  be 
a  successful  and  fair  prosecutor,  never  demanding  the  conviction 
of  any  one  whom  he  thought  to  be  innocent,  and  in  all  cases  giving 
to  the  accused  the  benefit  of  every  doubt. 

As  a  fraternal  man  he  ranks  high,  being  an  Odd  Fellow,  a  thirty- 
second  degree  Mason,  a  Knight  of  Pythias  and  a  member  of  several 
other  fraternal  organizations. 

He  was  married  October  10th,  1894,  to  Estella  Humes,  daughter 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  II.  Watson  of  Vinton,  la.  Mr.  Watson  was  for 
more  than  forty  years,  and  until  his  death,  August  7th,  1891,  a 
prominent  banker  of  that  city.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ramsay  reside  at  341 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  703 

Rush  Street,  Chicago,  where  they  have  a  very  happy  home,  sur- 
rounded by  many  warm  and  admiring  friends.  Mrs.  Ramsay  is  a 
charming  lady  of  cultivated  tastes,  being  an  artist  and  musician  of 
considerable  attainments. 

Mr.  Ramsay  is  a  notable  example  of  the  self-made  man,  and 
even  from  this  necessarily  brief  sketch  it  is  evident  that  he  not  only 
possesses  a  high  order  of  executive  and  general  mental  ability,'but  in 
addition,'indomitable  energy  and  perseverance, qualities  which  have 
enabled  him  to  surmount  all  his  difficulties  in  the  past,  achieving 
the  best  results  in  whatever  position  he  has  filled,  and  have  also  un- 
questionably assured  for  him  an  honorable  and  successful  future 
career. 


JOHN   JULIUS  KINSELLA. 


John  Julius  Kinsella  was  born  in  Lockport,  111.,  January  12th, 
1859,  his  parents  being  John  and  Mary  (Ryan)  Kinsella.  John  Kin- 
sella, the  father,  was  a  native  of  County  Carlow,  Ireland,  who  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States  about  the  year  1845,  settling  for  a  time 
in  Connecticut  and  later  moving  to  Illinois,  where  he  located  on  a 
farm  near  Lockport  and  died  there  in  1887.  He  came  of  a  sturdy 
Irish  family  and  was  held  in  the  highest  regard  by  every  one  who 
knew  him.  In  the  old  country  members  of  his  family  were  inti- 
mately connected  with  Smith  O'Brien  troubles,  and  were  also  well 
known  for  their  adherence  to  the  Catholic  Church,  at  one  time  there 
being  over  one  hundred  of  the  family  in  one  way  or  another  holding 
ecclesiastical  positions.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
came  of  a  Kilkenny  family,  who  had  settled  in  the  State  of  Maine. 
She  died  in  this  city  in  the  year  1890. 


704  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP    THE 

John  J.  Kinsella  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native  place, 
and.  later  the  St.  Ignatius  College,  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of 
age,  when  he  went  west  and  for  two  years  lived  in  Denver  and  the 
mountains  of  Colorado.  He  then  returned  to  Chicago  and  engaged 
in  business  with  his  brother,  Mr.  F.  D.  Kinsella,  who  had  in  1876 
established  a  plant  for  the  making  of  mirrors,  art  glass,  fancy  glass 
for  church  windows,  and  the  like.  A  large  number  of  the  principal 
hotels  and  restaurants  of  Chicago  have  been  furnished  with  the 
glass  ornamentation,  which  is  such  a  striking  feature  of  Chicago 
establishments,  by  this  firm,  whose  reputation  is  well  known 
throughout  the  west. 

Mr.  Kinsella  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Sheridan 
Club,  and  from  1888  to  1889  had  the  honor  of  being  its  president. 
He  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  belongs  to  the  congregation  of  St. 
Elizabeth's  Church,  while  in  politics  he  is  a  Democrat.  He  is  a  man 
of  large  acquaintance  and  is  very  greatly  esteemed. 


JOHN   DICKEY  MURPHY. 


The  business  of  the  City  of  Chicago  numbers  among  its  ablest 
and  most  respected  officials  many  of  Irish  birth  or  Irish  descent, 
and  of  these,  few  are  better  known  than  the  subject  of  the  present 
sketch. 

John  D.  Murphy  was  born  in  this  city,  January  24th,  1842,  at 
the  northwest  corner  of  Market  and  Washington  Streets.  His 
father,  who  was  born  in  Ireland,  came  from  the  East  in  1840.  Ed- 
ucated in  the  public  schools,  he  began  at  the  age  of  sixteen  to  learn 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  705 

the  trade  of  a  boiler  maker  in  the  shop  of  T.  W.  Cobb,  on  West 
Water  Street,  near  Kinzie.  In  1855  he  went  to  Rock  Island,  where 
he  worked  in  the  shops  of  the  Weber  Manufacturing  Company.  He 
returned  to  Chicago  in  1858,  and  found  employment  in  the  shops  of 
the  Racine  &  Mississippi  Railroad  Company.  In  conjunction  with 
a  number  of  other's,  in  18t57  he  founded  the  Chicago  Boiler  Works, 
in  which  he  remained  interested  until,  in  the  great  fire  of  1871,  the 
works  were  entirely  destroyed. 

Immediately  after  the  fire,  Mr.  Murphy  was  appointed  to  the 
position  of  Inspector  of  Boilers  by  Mayor  Joseph  Medill.  During 
the  fire,  a  great  number  of  the  big  boilers  in  Chicago  were  de- 
stroyed, and  consequently,  there  was  a  rush  to  Chicago  of  dealers 
with  old  and  second-hand  boilers.  Only  by  the  utmost  care  was  it 
possible  to  keep  such  out  of  the  city,  and  it  speaks  strongly  as  to 
Mr.  Murphy's  strict  attention  to  his  duties  that,  during  the  whole 
term  of  his  administration  as  Boiler  Inspector,  there  was  not  a 
single  boiler  explosion.  So  faithfully  and  satisfactorily  was  his 
work  done,  that  he  received  reappointments  to  the  position  succes- 
sively by  Mayors  Colvin  and  Heath,  making  eight  years  of  continued 
service. 

The  Great  Western  Steam  Boiler  Works  at  158  Fulton  Street,  of 
which  he  is  now  sole  owner,  was  started  in  1881  by  Robert  Anthony 
and  himself,  under  the  name  of  Murphy  &  Anthony.  The  partner- 
ship continued  until  February,  1882,  when  John  D.  Murphy  pur- 
chased Mr.  Anthony's  interest,  and  has  since  carried  it  on  alone. 
On  the  success  of  the  Republican  ticket  in  1895,  Mayor  Swift,  rec- 
ognizing the  merit  of  his  former  record,  once  more  appointed  him 
to  his  former  position  of  boiler  inspector. 

He  was  married  July  2,  1865,  to  Miss  Julia  Norton,  daughter  of 
Elisha  Norton,  of  Racine.  They  have  two  children,  Everett  and 
Merritt.  Mr.  Murphy  is  a  member  of  the  Lincoln  and  Menoken 
Clubs. 


706  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 


PATRICK   F.    KEILY. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch,  another  bright  and  popular  member 
of  Chicago's  large  army  of  the  legal  confraternity,  was  born  in  this 
city  March  15th,  1856.  Of  his  parents,  John  and  Johanna  (Moore) 
Keily,  his  father  came  to  the  United  States  in  1845,  settled 
for  a  short  time  in  Milan,  and  moving  thence  to  Elgin,  where  he 
started  in  the  butter  and  cheese  business  at  a  time  previous  to  any 
railroad  service.  Later  he  was  clerk  for  the  Galena  Kailroad,  after- 
wards coming  to  Chicago,  and  in  1857  taking  up  the  wood  and  coal 
business.  He  was  also  placed  in  charge  of  the  Catholic  cemetery. 

Patrick  F.  Keily  was  educated  at  the  Bedemptionist  Fathers' 
School,  where  he  spent  five  years,  and  having  graduated,  went  to 
the  Newberry  school,  from  which  he  also  graduated  in  1870.  For  a 
time  he  attended  the  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Business  College,  then 
taking  a  private  course  in  law  under  Professor  Bonayne  at  the 
Northwestern  University  of  Evanston,  he  was  admitted  to  practice 
in  1878,  but  had  previously  taken  in  addition  a  twelve  months' 
course  in  a  medical  college. 

Having  obtained  a  position  with  E.  L.  Haynes  as  editor  of  the 
"Legal  Advisor,"  he  also  compiled  the  Haynes  edition  of  the  City 
and  Village  Laws,  Haynes  Township  Laws,  Justice  Treatise  (two 
editions),  and  a  book  on  Parliamentary  Law  and  another  on  the 
American  Indian.  In  1881  he  started  with  the  law  firm  of  Moses  & 
Newman,  and  remaining  there  six  years,  obtained  a  position  in  the 
office  of  Corporation  Counsel  Bubens,  where  he  stayed  a  year  and  a 
half.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  in  successful  practice  by  himself 
and  also  with  ex-Judge  Cunningham. 

Mr.  Keily  was  married  at  Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  in  May,  1886,  to 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  707 

Mary  Lynch,  who  died  ten  mouths  later,  and  three  years  afterwards 
he  was  married  to  Lillian  Graham.    They  have  one  child,  a  boy. 

A  Roman  Catholic  in  his  religious  views,  he  is  a  strong  Repub- 
lican in  politics.  He  is  Grand  Master  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen,  a  member  of  the  Fraternal  Insurance  Society, 
Royal  Arcanum,  the  Catholic  Benevolent  Legion  and  also  of  the 
United  Brotherhood.  He  assisted  to  organize  and  was  an  original 
member  of  the  Second  Regiment,  Illinois  National  Guard,  in  which 
he  held  the  commission  of  second  lieutenant,  and  when  that  regi- 
ment dissolved  he  spent  twelve  months  in  the  Chicago  Zouaves. 


ROBERT  JOHN  WALSH. 


Robert  John  Walsh  was  born  in  County  Kerry,  Ireland,  June 
20th,  1861,  his  parents  being  John  and  Mary  (Dillon)  Walsh.  The 
father,  prominent  in  his  district  of  the  country  as  a  merchant  and 
politician,  is  still  in  the  old  country,  while  his  mother,  who  came  of 
a  well  known  Kerry  family,  her  father  being  a  large  farmer  and  her 
brothers  merchants,  died  in  1891. 

Robert  John  Walsh  attended  the  national  schools  of  Ireland 
until  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he  entered  a  dry  goods  store, 
served  his  apprenticeship,  and  came  to  Chicago  in  1878.  From  his 
arrival  in  this  city,  good  fortune  accompanied  him,  for  two  days 
later,  he  obtained  employment  and  entered  as  clerk  the  dry  goods 
store  of  C.  W.  &  E.  Pardridge  on  State  Street.  Uis  stay  in  that  oc- 
cupation, however,  was  of  short  duration,  for  he  quickly  attracted 
the  notice  of  the  heads  of  the  house,  and  when  six  months  had 

88 


708  BIOGRAPHICAL.   HISTORY    OP    THE 

passed,  he  was  made  rent  collector,  a  year  later  being  further  pro- 
moted and  placed  in  charge  of  all  the  property  owned  by  the  Pard- 
ridge  Brothers.  When  the  partnership  of  the  latter  was  dissolved 
in  1890,  Mr.  Walsh  connected  himself  with  Mr.  Ed.  Pardridge,  and 
was  given  entire  charge  and  management  of  his  large  real  estate 
holdings  in  Chicago  (amounting  to  three  or  four  millions  of  dollars) 
and  retained  until  the  death  of  his  employer  April  17th,  1896. 

The  charge  of  the  estate  is  now  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Walsh  as 
business  manager,  and  in  addition  thereto,  on  September  1st,  189G, 
he  entered  into  partnership  with  Mr.  Willard  E.  Pardridge,  a  son  of 
his  former  employer,  and  a  department  store  was  opened  in  Detroit, 
Mich.,  which  has  met  with  considerable  success. 

Mr.  Walsh  is  a  valued  member  of  the  Columbus  Club;  in  his 
religious  views  he  is  a  devout  Catholic,  belonging  to  the  congrega- 
tion of  St.  Jarlath's  Church,  while  in  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 

He  was  united  in  marriage  in  1885  to  Maggie  C.  White  of  Chi- 
cago, and  they  have  a  family  of  five  children. 


JEREMIAH   S.   HYLAND. 


In  the  Irish  and  Catholic  homes  all  over  the  great  West,  wher- 
ever faith  or  patriotism  finds  a  comfort  in  good  books,  there  is  no 
name  better  known  than  that  of  J.  S.  Hyland,  the  Chicago  publisher. 
This  successful  young  business  man  is  a  native  of  County  Tipperary, 
Ireland,  and  spent  the  years  of  his  boyhood  in  the  shadow  of  the 
Galties  near  the  southern  end  of  the  Golden  Vale.  His  parents, 
Thomas  and  Frances  (Sisk)  Hyland,  were  both  of  old  Tipperary 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  709 

stock,  that  fearless  peasantry  which  was  ever  responsive  to  the 
call  of  Ireland.  At  the  age  of  fourteen,  and  with  only  a  common 
school  education  to  work  with,  J.  S.  Hyland  sailed  for  America  to 
carve  his  way  to  fortune.  He  first  settled  in  Boston,  and  there,  in 
a  little  while,  began  as  salesman  for  a  publishing  house.  In  this 
calling  he  was  both  plucky  and  successful,  and  he  also  showed  that 
he  was  ambitious  by  going  to  the  evening  high  school  for  four  years 
until  he  became  a  graduate. 

A  young  man  of  such  metal  was  sure  to  rise.  Mr.  Hyland's 
employers  gave  him  one  important  agency  after  another,  so  that  his 
knowledge  of  the  book  interest  ripened  with  his  mental  growth.  In 
1884  he  turned  his  face  westward,  and  after  a  short  stay  at  Detroit 
opened  up  for  himself  as  a  publisher  in  the  western  metropolis.  The 
imprint  of  J.  S.  Ilyland  &  Co.,  has  since  then  been  placed  on  many 
noble  books.  Numbers  of  these  were  of  a  devotional  character  and 
some  were  biographical  and  historical,  the  latter  including  the 
valuable  histories  of  the  Columbian  Catholic  Congress  and  the 
Catholic  Educational  Exhibit  at  the  World's  Fair.  The  most  ex- 
alted American  prelates  have  praised  these  books  both  as  to  matter 
and  finish,  and  the  publishers,  in  regard  to  the  last  named  elegant 
work,  won  the  rare  honor  of  a  direct  approval  from  His  Holiness 
Pope  Leo  the  Thirteenth. 

Personally  Mr.  Hyland  is  the,  model  Tipperary  man  of  whom 
Davis  sang: 

"Tall  In  his  form,  his  heart  Is  warm; 
His  spirits  ever  light  and  airy." 

He  also  has  the  soldierly  spirit  of  his  stock.  In  1890  he  joined 
the  Hibernian  Rifles,  speedily  rising  to  be  their  adjutant,  and  in 
'93  he  was  commissioned  as  Captain  and  Inspector  of  Rifle  Practice 
of  the  Seventh  Regiment  Illinois  National  Guard,  a  rank  which  he 
still  holds  with  credit  and  popularity. 


710  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF    THE 

lie  is  a  member  of  the  Columbus  Club  and  member  and  officer 
of  a  number  of  other  Catholic  organizations.  Bright  and  compan- 
ionable in  social  life  and  affable  and  progressive  in  business,  his 
place  among  the  exiles  of  Erin  is  that  of  a  truly  self-made  man  and 
one  worthy  of  all  the  success  he  has  so  bravely  won 


JOHN  C.  BURKE. 


John  C.  Burke,  who  for  over  a  quarter  of  a  century  has  been  well 
known  in  live  stock  circles  and  associations,  was  born  in  June,  1844, 
in  County  Limerick,  Ireland.  His  father,  Francis  N.  Burke,  a  native 
of  the  same  county,  was  a  farmer  and  stock  man,  and  died  nearly 
thirty  years  ago,  while  his  mother,  Johanna  Casey,  was  also  born  in 
Limerick,  in  1807;  she  died  in  Chicago,  December  12th,  1896,  having 
nearly  reached  the  ripe  old  age  of  ninety  years.  The  family  came 
to  this  country  in  1849  when  John  was  about  five  years  old,  and 
settled  in  Chicago.  The  milk  business  was  first  embarked  in,  having 
their  own  dairy,  and  gradually  launching  into  the  general  fanning 
and  live  stock  business. 

The  boy  received  a  primary  education  at  the  public  schools  and 
at  St.  Mary's  of  the  Lake,  finishing  his  course  at  the  college  of  Notre 
Dame,  Indiana.  After  leaving  college,  he  for  some  time  assisted  his 
father  in  business  at  Elgin,  Ills.,  where  the  dairy  and  farm  were 
situated.  ITe  came  to  Chicago  in  1872,  and  the  firm  of  George 
Adams  &  Burke  Company  was  formed,  and  has  now  existed  for  over 
twenty-four  years.  From  the  start  the  concern  was  successful,  and 
has  for  many  years  past  been  one  bf  the  largest  and  most  import- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  711 

ant  of  the  live  stock  commission  houses.  Mr.  Burke  has  had  con- 
siderable interest  in  horses  and  also  in  land  investments,  though 
the  general  live  stock  business  has  been  his  chief  interest.  He  has 
traveled  extensively  in  the  United  States,  as  also  in  Mexico  and 
Canada,  and  in  the  summer  months  still  takes  a  yearly  trip  with 
his  wife. 

A  Roman  Catholic  in  his  religious  views,  Mr.  Burke  considers 
himself  in  politics  a  Democrat,  but  reserves  the  right  to  vote  at  any 
time  for  the  best  man  and  especially  for  a  friend,  if  he  considers 
such  friend  the  right  man  in  the  right  place.  In  the  last  campaign 
he  was  with  Major  McKiuley,  feeling  that  his  election  would  be  for 
the  best  interests  of  the  country. 

In  1877  Mr.  Burke  married  Margaret  Breuock,  daughter  of  John 
Brenock.  They  have  nine  children,  six  girls  and  three  boys,  all  of 
whom  are  living. 

He  is  a  man  of  good  presence,  of  genial  yet  dignified  manner, 
and  with  decidedly  domestic  tastes,  considering  his  home  the  best 
place  on  earth  except  when  taking  a  trip  for  his  own  or  his  family's 
health.  His  brother,  Morris  C.,  is  now  Bishop  of  St.  Joe,  Mo.,  and 
was  formerly  Bishop  of  Cheyenne,  Wyo. 


REV.  BERNARD  P.  MURRAY. 


In  whatever  capacity,  whether  as  priest,  Irishman  or  worthy 
citizen,  it  is  doubtful  if  any  man  in  the  west  stands  higher  in  the 
estimation  of  his  fellow-countrymen  or  his  fellow-citizens  than  does 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 


712  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

Father  Murray  was  born  in  Glenariffe,  near  Oushendall,  County 
Antrim,  Ireland,  and  as  a  mere  child,  in  1856,  was  brought  to  Amer- 
ica by  his  parents.  He  graduated  at  St.  John's  College,  Fordhara, 
N.  Y.,  receiving  from  that  institution  the  degrees  of  Bachelor  and 
Master  of  Arts.  His  theological  studies  were  later  pursued  at  St. 
Mary's  Seminary,  Baltimore,  Maryland,  and  he  was  ordained  by 
Archbishop,  now  Cardinal,  Gibbons,  December  17th,  1881.  For 
some  time  he  served  as  assistant  priest  at  Galena,  111.,  and  after- 
wards at  St.  Bridget's  Church  in  Chicago,  being  then  appointed 
secretary  to  Archbishop  Feehan  and  Chancellor  of  the  Archdio- 
cese. His  performance  of  the  necessary  and  very  responsible  du- 
ties devolving  on  him  in  that  capacity  was  such  as  to  win  for  him 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  every  one  with  whom  he  was  brought 
into  contact,  and  great  was  the  regret  of  all  with  whom  he  had 
been  constantly  associated  when  he  was  appointed  to  his  present 
charge,  the  parish  of  St.  Bernard.  This  parish  was  established  by 
Archbishop  Feehan  in  July,  1887,  in  that  part  of  the  South  Side  of 
the  city  which  is  known  as  Englewood,  a  district  which,  previous 
to  that  time,  had  been  almost  exclusively  non-Catholic.  Father 
Murray  had  here  a  noble  opportunity,  and  his  firm  grasp  of  affairs 
and  special  gifts  in  the  required  direction  have  been  shown  by  his 
building  up  a  strong  Catholic  congregation.  Not  merely  has  his 
parish  made  wonderful  progress  numerically,  the  religious  ardor 
of  its  members  has  been  evinced  by  a  generosity  which  has  enabled 
their  kindly  and  religiously  ambitious  pastor  to  attempt  a  depar- 
ture in  the  church  building  of  Chicago.  The  new  church,  the  first 
marble  church  ever  erected  in  this  city,  which  is  now  rapidly  near- 
ing  its  completion,  is  a  magnificent  pile  of  white  Georgia  marble, 
happy  in  its  design  and  splendidly  beautiful  in  the  execution. 

Father  Murray,  who  has  endeared  himself  to  every  man,  woman 
and  child  in  the  large  district  under  his  control,  is  a  man  of  very 
varied  gifts.  He  is  an  eloquent  preacher,  and  as  a  speaker  for  na- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  713 

tional  and  other  gatherings  is  in  request  to  an  extent  it  is  not  pos- 
sible for  him  to  gratify.  Upon  all  Irish  subjects  he  is  a  recognized 
authority,  and  his  large  and  well  chosen  library  is  especially  rich 
in  Irish  works.  It  is  a  matter  worthy  of  mention  that  the  well- 
known  Catholic  historian,  the  late  Dr.  John  O'Kane  Murray,  was 
his  brother. 


MARTIN    B.  MADDEN. 


When  the  history  of  the  administration  of  affairs  of  the  City  of 
Chicago  comes  to  be  written,  the  name  of  Martin  B.  Madden  will 
find  a  place  upon  its  foremost  page.  Born  in  London,  England, 
of  Irish  parents,  his  schooling  over,  he  demonstrated  the  possession 
of  very  high  business  abilities.  Coming  to  Chicago  from  Lemont, 
where  his  family  had  settled,  he  entered  while  quite  a  young  man 
the  city  council  with  a  view  of  obtaining  beneficial  legislation  for 
his  neighbors  and  friends  in  the  Fourth  Ward  and  in  the  interest  of 
good  government.  Immediately  through  his  own  merit  and  the 
strength  of  character  for  which  he  is  remarkable,  he  became  a 
leader  in  the  council  and  the  work  that  he  has  since  accomplished 
for  the  benefit  of  his  constituents  is  known  only  to  those  who  have 
been  and  are  the  beneficiaries  thereof. 

Mr.  Madden  is  the  president  of  one  of  the  greatest  private  busi- 
ness institutions  in  the  city,  the  Western  Stone  Company,  and  to 
that  position  he  was  elevated  by  the  votes  of  some  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  Chicago — men  whose  names  are  household  words,  who 
are  shareholders  in  the  concern  of  which  he  is  the  trusted  chief. 
In  his  private  business,  as  publicly,  Mr.  Madden  has  been  the  loyal 


714  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OP    THE 

and  generous  friend  of  the  wage  workers,  and  what  he  has  done  has 
been  generously  recognized  on  a  number  of  occasions. 

Prominently  mentioned  in  the  spring  of  1895  as  candidate  for 
Mayor  of  the  city,  his  loyalty  to  friends  and  to  the  Republican  party 
was  proved  by  the  readiness  with  which  he  withdrew  his  name  in 
favor  of  George  B.  Swift,  who  secured  the  election. 


JOSEPH    COLL   BRADEN. 


Joseph  O.  Braden,  the  well  known  insurance  agent,  as  well  as 
prominent  Republican- and  man  of  affairs,  is  a  son  of  the  celebrated 
Joseph  Long  Braden,  and  was  born  at  Joliet,  Will  County,  Illinois, 
January  29th,  1858.  Joseph  Long  Braden  was  for  some  thirteen 
years  the  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  "Joliet  Republican,"  from 
1856  to  1869,  until  his  death  in  the  latter  year.  The  position  of 
postmaster  was  also  held  by  him,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  his 
appointment  as  Minister  to  Spain  had  been  decided  upon  by  Presi- 
dent U.  S.  Grant.  Always  an  active  working  Republican,  he  was 
one  of  the  Abraham  Lincoln  electors  from  Illinois.  The  grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  Walter  Braden,  who  had 
married  a  lady  named  Long,  and  Joseph  L.  Bradeu's  wife  was  for- 
merly Jane  Coll.  Both  families  located  in  Pennsylvania,  the  Bra- 
dens  at  Franklin  and  the  Colls  at  Butler.  Two  generations  back 
the  latter  had  come  to  this  country  from  Coll,  Ireland,  which,  tak- 
ing its  name  from  the  family,  is  located  near  the  west  coast  of  Scot- 
land, i  I  '  ; 

Joseph  Coll  Braden  was  educated  at  Joliet  and  at  Notre  Dame, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  717 

Indiana,  receiving  an  ordinary  business  course.  Oil  leaving  school 
the  boy  lost  no  time  in  setting  to  work,  first  as  an  office  boy  at 
Joliet  Rolling  Mills,  then  as  salesman  in  a  hat  and  cap  store,  after- 
wards in  the  Joliet  Boiling  Mills,  and  later  on  was  guard  at  the 
Illinois  State  prison.  In  1877  Mr.  Braden  started  an  insurance 
agency  at  Joliet  and  built  up  a  most  successful  business,  which  con- 
tinued until  he  was  laid  up  with  a  severe  sickness,  and,  as  he  says, 
actually  expecting  to  die,  he  sold  out  his  agency.  Recovering  his 
health  a  few  months  later,  he  left  his  birthplace  and  came  to  Chi- 
cago, February,  1881,  entering  the  office  of  Moore  &  Janes,  the  well 
know  insurance  agents.  Here  his  energy  and  business  ability  soon 
told  and  almost  immediately  he  was  doing  and  still  continues  a 
most  successful  business.  In  1890  Mr.  Braden  also  took  the  agency 
of  the  Northwestern  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  of  Milwaukee, 
and  has  accomplished  as  much  business  for  that  company  as  any 
other  Illinois  agent  in  the  way  of  securing  large  policies. 

Notwithstanding  his  active  and  important  business  interests, 
Mr.  Braden  has  found  time  to  occupy  himself  largely  in  public  mat- 
ters, especially  in  connection  with  the  Republican  party.  He  was 
secretary  of  the  Republican  Executive  Committee  during  the  fall 
campaign  of  1894,  at  which  election  Cook  County  changed  from  a 
Democratic  plurality  of  33,000  to  a  Republican  plurality  of  51,000, 
and  was  also  secretary  at  the  city  election  of  1895,  at  which  there 
was  an  increased  Republican  majority.  Mr.  Braden  was  elected 
Drainage  Trustee  on  the  Republican  ticket  in  the  fall  of  1895  by 
49,000  majority,  and  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  Engineering 
Committee  in  1896,  which  is  probably  the  most  important  commit- 
tee of  the  drainage  board.  In  this  responsible  position  his  energy 
and  wise  counsels  have  been  invaluable  to  the  board,  and  he  has 
been  the  means  of  furthering  numerous  measures  for  the  advance- 
ment of  the  great  project  in  hand. 

He  is  a  member  of  Masonic  Apollo  Lodge  642,  and  of  Fairview 


718  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

Chapter,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Columbia  Council,  Royal 
League. 

As  may  be  gathered  from  this  brief  record,  Mr.  Braden  has  al- 
ways been  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  declares  he  has  seen  no 
reason  to  change  his  political  faith. 

December,  1884,  Mr.  Braden  married  Miss  Agnes  T.  Springfield, 
daughter  of  Dr.  F.  M.  and  Agnes  Munson  Springfield.  They  have 
four  children,  Agnes  Grace,  Jane  Louise,  Francis  Marian  and  Jo- 
sephine Cornelia. 

Mr.  Braden  is  six  feet  in  height  and  weighs  250  pounds,  and,  as 
may  be  judged  from  his  physique,  is  of  fine  constitution  and  com- 
manding presence.  He  is  a  man  not  only  of  fine  mental  and  execu- 
tive ability,  but  of  tremendous  energy,  which  has  been  exemplified 
during  his  whole  career,  whether  in  business  or  in  public  affairs. 
With  him  to  will  a  thing  is  usually  to  carry  it  to  a  successful  ac- 
complishment. In  disposition  he  is  warm  and  generous  in  man- 
ner, kindly  and  courteous.  Still  in  his  early  prime,  unquestionably 
a  yet  more  distinguished  career  is  before  him. 


THOMAS  MAHONEY. 


Thomas  Mahoney,  another  son  of  William  Mahoney,  the  old-time 
live  stock  dealer,  now  retired,  was  born  in  Chicago  November  5th, 
1856.  He  was  educated  at  St.  John's  College  until  fourteen  years 
of  age,  when  he  started  in  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith.  After 
three  years,  however,  he  gave  up  the  occupation  and  joined  his 
father  in  the  live  stock  business.  Later  on  he  engaged  with  Swift 
&  Co.,  and  bought  hogs  for  that  firm  for  five  years,  when  he  resigned 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  719 

to  become  Vice-President  of  the  Cumber-laud  Provision  Company, 
which  position  he  still  holds. 

In  the  interest  of  his  business  Mr.  Mahoney  has  traveled  consid- 
erably through  the  West,  lie  is  a  Roman  Catholic  in  religion,  and 
politically  entirely  independent^  not  allying  himself  with  any  dis- 
tinctive party. 

May  19th,  1880,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Ellen  McElroy  of 
this  city,  and  they  have  six  children,  all  living. 

Mr.  Mahoney  is  thoroughly  domestic  in  his  habits  and  tastes; 
he  is  a  lover  of  music,  and  one  of  the  delights  of  his  home  is  the  play- 
ing of  his  daughter,  who  is  quite  an  accomplished  musician. 


JAMES   CONWELL. 


This  well  known  and  most  popular  Chicago  newspaper  writer 
was  born  at  Leighlin  Bridge,  County  Carlow,  Ireland,  in  1861. 

As  political  reporter  he  has  represented  during  the  past  thirteen 
years  the  leading  newspapers  of  this  city,  and  his  ready  grasp  of 
affairs,  his  quick  and  sound  judgment,  his  keen  intellect  and  his  fa- 
cility to  impress  upon  others  the  conclusions  he  has  formed  after 
careful  consideration,  are  the  qualifications  which  have  placed  him 
where  lie  .stands  to-day.  When  Mayor  Washburne  became  chief  ex- 
ecutive of  the  city  he  immediately  recognized  the  young  newspaper 
man's  ability  by  giving  him  the  appointment  of  private  secretary', 
a  position  in  which  he  was  able  to  add  largely  to  his  popularity  and 
estimation  among  the  City  Hall  and  county  officials.  When  Mayor 
Washburne's  term  of  office  expired  Mr.  Conwell  was  offered  and  ac- 


720  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

cepted  the  political  editorship  of  the  Chicago  Evening  Journal,  fill- 
ing the  position  in  such  a  manner  as  not  merely  to  raise  that  paper 
in  public  estimation,  but  at  the  same  time  to  reflect  very  consider- 
able credit  upon  himself.  On  the  purchase  of  the  latter  paper  by  an 
Eastern  syndicate,  Mr.  Conwell  severed  his  connection  therewith, 
and  has  since  acted  in  a  similar  capacity  for  the  Chicago  Dispatch, 
of  which  he  is  now  the  Springfield  representative,  and  is  recognized 
as  one  of  the  brightest  and  most  capable  newspaper  writers  of  the 
West. 

In  political  affairs  he  has  made  himself  a  power,  and  his  strong 
assistance  has  been  given  and  his  able  advocacy  offered  to  those 
principles  which  he  believes  to  be  the  right  a.nd  with  which  the  wel- 
fare of  the  people  is,  in  his  opinion,  most  chiefly  concerned.  In 
choosing  Mr.  Conwell  as  assistant  secretary  of  the  Senate,  a  well 
deserved  compliment  was  paid  to  the  newspaper  man,  the  worthy 
politician  and  the  honorable  and  straightforward  gentleman. 

Strong  in  his  denunciation  of  wrong,  gifted  with  great  power 
of  pen,  a  natural  and  national  flow  of  wit,  ever  a  true  friend,  a 
charming  conversationalist  and  a  thoroughly  good  hearted  and 
kindly  representative,  James  Conwell  is  taking,  and  is  assured  of 
a  high  place  among  those  of  his  race  in  the  great  Western  world. 

Mr.  Conwell  is  married,  has  one  child,  and  for  some  years  past 
has  resided  in  Berwyn,  one  of  Chicago's  many  suburbs. 

In  1806  he  was  one  of  the  corps  of  correspondents  who  accom- 
panied William  O'Brien,  the  famous  member  of  Parliament,  in  his 
tour  through  Canada  in  denunciation  of  the  Marquis  of  Lansdowne, 
then  Governor  General,  for  his  treatment  of  his  tenantry  on  his 
Tipperary  estates.  He  represented  the  Chicago  Morning  News  in 
that  memorable  crusade,  and  was  indeed  the  only  Chicago  newspa- 
per man  in  the  goodly  company  of  scribes  who  accompanied  the 
Irish  representative. 

Mr.  Couwell  takes  particular  pride  in  the  fact  that  it  was  he  who 


AMERICAN   IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  721 

in  188(5  unearthed  the  society  known  as  the  United  Order  of  Depu- 
ties at  that  time,  and  now  known  by  the  familiar  title  of  the  A.  P. 
A.  It  was  the  first  time  the  existence  of  the  organization  was 
known,  but  he  made  a  complete  expose  of  it,  publishing  in  the  Morn- 
ing News  not  only  the  signs,  passwords,  oath,  etc.,  of  the  order,  but 
actually  obtaining  access  to  a  meeting  and  giving  the  particulars 
of  plans  framed  by  it  for  the  defeat  of  certain  candidates  in  a  pend- 
ing election  in  Cook  County.  The  matter  created  a  profound  sensa- 
tion all  over  the  country  at  the  time. 


WILLIAM  J.  HYNES. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  born  March  31st,  1843,  in 
Kilkee,  County  Clare,  Ireland,  is  well  to  the  fore  among  Chicago's 
most  prominent  lawyers.  His  father,  Thomas  Ilynes,  was  a  well 
known  architect  and  builder,  and  after  his  death  the  widow  with 
her  family  emigrated  to  the  United  States  and  settled  at  Spring- 
field, Massachusetts. 

Having  his.  mother  to  support,  W.  J.  Flynes  at  once  entered  the 
office  of  the  Springfield  Republican,  where  he  learned  to  set  type 
and  at  the  same  time  attended  the  evening  school  of  that  city.  His 
mother  died  in  1864  and  soon  afterwards  he  became  interested  in 
the  Irish  National  movement  and  was  subsequently  appointed 
Fenian  organizer  for  New  England. 

He  began  to  study  law  in  186fi  and  entered  into  partnership 
with  General  John  O'Neill  in  Nashville,  Tennessee.  Later  he  went 
to  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  to  Georgetown,  where  he  completed  his 
legal  studies  in  the  Columbia  Law  University  and  was  admitted  to 


722  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

the  bar  in  1870.  The  practice  of  his  profession  was  begun  at  Little 
Eock,  Ark.,  where  he  also  wrote  considerably  for  the  State  Journal. 
In  1872  he  was  elected  on  the  Greeley  ticket  for  congressman  at 
large  to  the  Forty-third  Congress  by  the  reform  Republicans  and 
Democrats.  The  following  year  he  ran  again  for  Congress,  was 
elected  and  then  defeated  by  the  redistricting  of  the  State  under 
what  was  known  as  Baxter's  machine.  In  September,  1875,  he  re- 
moved to  Chicago  and  formed  a  partnership  with  Judge  Walter  B. 
Scates,  which  continued  until  1880,  when  the  firm  of  Hynes,  English 
&  Dunne  was  organized  and  at  once  took  its  place  among  the  chief 
legal  firms  of  this  city.  An  extensive  business  is  being  done  and 
long  since  Mr.  ITynes  might  have  reached  the  bench  if  his  ambition 
lay  in  that  direction. 

Mr.  Ilynes  was  married  in  September,  1871,  to  Jennie  W., 
daughter  of  Judge  George  B.  Way  of  Ohio. 

In  social  circles  he  is  at  all  times  in  great  request,  for  he  is  a 
brilliant  and  most  entertaining  conversationalist  and  a  perfect 
friend. 


WILLIAM  JEREMIAH   QUIN. 


William  Jeremiah  Quin  was  born  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  March 
14th,  1857.  Mr.  Quin  received  a  primary  education  at  St.  Gall's 
parochial  school,  Milwaukee,  afterwards  attending  the  city  high 
school  and  finally  graduated  at  the  University  of  Wisconsin.  Hav- 
ing a  great  love  for  the  drama,  he  adopted  the  stage  as  a  profession 
immediately  after  leaving  the  university,  but  his  ambition  being  of 
a  higher  order,  he  soon  drifted  into  the  legal  profession.  lie  was 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  723 

admitted  to  the  bar  in  June,  1879,  at  Milwaukee,  practiced  there 
for  some  time  and  then  came  to  Chicago.  Since  1883  he  has  been 
connected  with  the  legal  department  of  Armour  &  Company,  which 
has  practically  been  under  his  charge. 

For  eight  years,  Mr.  Quin  was  a  member  of  the  Sheridan  Guards 
of  the  Wisconsin  National  Guard.  Several  years  ago  he  was  a 
member  of  the  County  Republican  Committee  and  is  now  one  of  the 
Executive  Committee  of  the  Irish  Republican  National  Committee 
and  legislative  officers  in  Wisconsin  Legislature.  He  has  always 
been  a  Republican. 

Mr.  Quin  was  married  August  20th,  1883,  to  Rachel  A.  Hogarth 
of  Plymouth,  Ind.,  who  died  July  8th,  1888.  On  July  5th,  1889,  he 
was  married  again  to  Alice  Evans  Lyons  of  New  York  City,  who 
died  October  20th,  1895.  There  is  one  child  living,  a  daughter. 

Mr.  Quin  is  a  man  of  bright  and  active  intellect  and  of  very  pleas- 
ing personality.  That  his  gifts  are  of  a  high  order  and  his  success 
in  any  sphere  chosen  but  a  matter  of  time,  the  reputation  he  bears 
and  the  responsible  position  he  holds  in  such  a  firm  as  Armour  & 
Company  bears  fitting  indorsement. 


THOMAS  J.   PAGAN. 


This  well  known  and  popular  sergeant  of  the  Chicago  police 
service  was  born  in  Dublin,  November  19th,  1859.  Of  his  parents, 
Patrick  and  Charlotte  (Steele)  Pagan,  the  father,  who  died  a  few 
years  ago,  was  one  of  the  oldest  employes  of  the  Great  Southern  & 


724  BIOGRAPHICAL,   HISTORY   OF    THE 

Western  Railroad,  having  been  in  that  service  for  upwards  of  fifty 
years,  during  which  period  he  filled  various  positions.  He  was  the 
last  man  who  spoke  with  Smith  O'Brien  previous  to  the  tatter's 
arrest  by  the  English  guard,  Hulin,  at  the  Limerick  Junction  Rail- 
way Station.  When  asked  to  assist  in  arresting  O'Brien  his  answer 
was  simple — "Arrest  him?  Why  what  did  the  poor  fellow  ever  do 
to  me  or  to  mine?"  Hulm  arrested  O'Brien,  obtained  the  blood 
money,  and  was  in  a  drunkard's  grave  inside  of  a  year.  The  mother 
is  still  living  in  Dublin. 

Thomas  J.  Fagan  received  a  very  thorough  education  and  has 
strongly  developed  literary  tastes.  His  first  schooling  was  under 
the  Oblate  Fathers  at  Dublin,  for  many  years  under  the  Christian 
Brothers,  and  was  afterwards  under  the  present  member  of  the 
English  House  of  Commons,  the  well  known  Timothy  Harrington. 
Later,  for  a  year,  he  studied  with  a  private  tutor,  Mr.  Connellan  of 
Renalagh,  Dublin. 

For  a  short  time  he  held  a  clerkship  on  the  railroad,  but  decided 
to  embrace  the  better  opportunities  offered  to  energy,  ambition  and 
talent  in  the  United  States.  In  1880  he  left  the  old  country  and 
after  visiting  for  a  short  time  in  New  York  and  Bermuda  he  came 
direct  to  Chicago.  His  first  employment  in  this  country  was  with 
the  firm  of  Harmon  &  Merriman  in  the  wholesale  grocery  trade, 
which  was  given  up  two  years  later  to  accept  a  position  as  sales- 
man on  the  road  for  Gray,  Burt  &  Kingman.  Twelve  months  later 
he  went  to  Nebraska  and  opened  up  a  general  store,  but  fortune 
failed  to  favor  and  in  1889  he  returned  to  Chicago.  He  secured  em- 
ployment as  a  clerk  on  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad, 
but  in  1891,  the  opportunity  being  given  him,  he  went  on  the  Chi- 
cago police  force  as  patrolman.  Every  duty  of  his  position  was  per- 
formed to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  superior  officers  and  he  re- 
ceived promotion  to  sergeant. 

Sergeant  Fagan  was  married  in  this  city  in  1893  to  Mary  Coffey, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  725 

and  their  home  rejoices  in  a  daughter,  who,  at  the  time  of  this  writ- 
ing, is  three  years  old. 

A  Itoman  Catholic  in  his  religious  views  and  in  his  politics  an 
independent  Democrat,  Mr.  Pagan  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Benevolent  Legion  and  also  of  a  number  of  insurance  societies. 


FRANK  T.  SCANLAN. 


Frank  T.  Scanlan,  one  of  the  younger  members  of  a  family  that 
have  been  considerable  factors  in  the  life  and  development  of  Chi- 
cago, was  born  in  this  city  January  12th,  1855.  His  father,  Ed- 
ward Scanlan,  was  a  native  of  Castlemahon,  County  Limerick,  Ire- 
land, who  left  the  old  country  and  came  to  this  city  in  1851.  Here 
he  started  a  candy  factory  on  the  North  Side,  at  the  corner  of  La 
Salle  and  Huron  Streets,  and  it  was  in  the  rear  of  this  building  that 
the  subject  of  the  present  sketch  was  born.  Later  the  business 
was  removed  to  South  Water  Street,  five  members  of  the  family, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Scanlan  Bros.,  forming  the  concern.  Mr. 
Scanlan  was  certainly  one  of  the  oldest,  and  in  time  became  one  of 
the  largest  confectionery  manufacturers  of  Chicago.  During  the 
.sixties  the  firm  of  Scanlan  Bros,  was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Edward 
Scanlan  then  associated  himself  with  P.  L.  Garrity,  a  connection 
which  continued  until  the  death  of  the  former  in  1887.  Edward 
Scanlan  was  married  to  Ann  Higgins  in  Boston,  Mass.,  Easter  Sun- 
day, March  25,  1853.  She  was  a  native  of  County  Cavan,  Ireland. 

Frank  T.  Scanlan  received  his  education  at  the  Kinzie  and  Og- 
den  schools  and  at  the  Cathedral  College,  obtaining  all  the  advan- 
tages of  a  good  commercial  as  well  as  moral  training.  Shortly 


726  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

after  leaving  school  lie  secured  a  position  in  the  well-known  whole- 
sale grocery  firm  of  Wm.  M.  Hoyt  Co.,  with  whom  he  remained  for 
twenty-two  years,  advancing  step  by  step  until  he  became  manager 
and  head  of  the  shipping  department,  a  position  of  much  responsi- 
bility, needing  considerable  executive  ability,  as  well  as  constant 
attention  and  energy.  Naturally  Mr.  Scanlan  was  specially  inter- 
ested in  all  matters  connected  with  shipping  and  in  the  men  asso- 
ciated with  it,  and  in  1887  he  organized  the  Shipping  Clerks'  Coun- 
cil of  the  Royal  League,  with  the  object  of  bringing  the  latter,  who 
were  connected  with  various  shipping  departments,  into  closer  con- 
tact for  mutual  counsel  and  social  intercourse,  stated  to  be  the  only 
organization  of  its  kind  in  the  country.  It  has  been  successful 
from  the  start,  and  at  the  present  time  has  a  membership  list  of 
about  two  hundred.  Both  by  land  and  water  occasional  excur- 
sions are  made  by  the  members  of  the  council,  which  is  looked  upon 
by  the  leading  railroads  as  quite  an  important  institution.  As  its 
originator  and  projector,  Mr.  Scanlan  has  naturally  held  many  im- 
portant offices  in  the  association,  and  is  now  a  leading  member  of 
the  executive  committee.  At  the  tenth  anniversary,  recently  held, 
the  souvenir  stated,  among  other  warm  eulogies  regarding  him: 
"Frank  T.  Scanlan  was  the  nestor,  founder,  guide,  and  steadfast 
friend  of  the  Chicago  Shipping  Clerks,  and  to  him  they  owe  a  debt 
of  gratitude."  Eventually  he  resigned  his  position  with  Hoyt  & 
Co.,  to  become  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Conklin  &  Co.,  of  Fifth  Ave- 
nue and  Monroe  Streets,  and  after  two  years  and  a  half  in  that  con- 
nection he  bought  out  A.  W.  Long  of  La  Salle  and  Quincy  Streets, 
and  still  carries  on  the  business  at  that  location. 

Mr.  Scanlan  has  been  connected  with  the  Waubansia  Club 
since  its  organization,  and  is  a  member  of  Cathedral  Court  36  of  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  and  of  the  Central  Council  of  the  North 
America  Union.  He  is  a  Roman  Catholic  in  his  religious  views, 
and  is  a  Democrat  in  politics.  As  regards  the  latter,  while  always 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  727 

ready  to  aid  his  party  by  bis  counsel  and  efforts  he  has  never 
sought  or  desired  political  office.  Outside  of  his  active  business  in- 
terests Mr.  Scanlan  has  devoted  a  considerable  portion  of  his  time 
and  attention  to  organizations  of  a  benevolent  order  and  object, 
so  much  so  that  there  is  scarcely  a  night  in  the  week  that  he  is  not 
in  attendance  at  some  meeting  of  that  description,  where  his  good 
judgment,  executive  ability  and  active  co-operation  are  held  in  the 
highest'  value. 

Even  from  this  brief  sketch  it  may  be  seen  that  Mr.  Scanlan 
is  not  only  a  man  whose  natural  abilities  have  been  strengthened 
and  enlarged  by  a  thorough  commercial  education  and  business 
training,  but  in  addition  thereto  that  he  has  exhibited  from  his 
very  start  in  life  as  a  clerk  for  Hoyt  &  Co.  exceptional  industry, 
united  to  perseverance  and  untiring  energy.  He  is  of  genial  tem- 
perament, unassuming,  and  at  all  times  courteous  manners,  and 
has  gained  the  honor  and  esteem  of  numbers  of  his  fellow-citizens 
by  his  unswerving  honesty  of  deed  and  purpose,  his  liberality,  and 
his  kindlv  interest  in  all  charitable  movements. 


DANIEL    DONAHOE. 


The  high  professional  average  of  the  younger  element  of  the 
legal  fraternity  in  Chicago,  as  exemplified  in  the  prominence  at- 
tained by  a  large  proportion  of  its  numbers,  their  marked  ability 
as  orators,  exhaustive  knowledge  of  the  fundamental  principles  of 
the  law,  and  the  vigor,  energy  and  shrewdness  with  which  they 
present  and  try  their  cases,  has  made  the  Chicago  bar  famous 
throughout  the  country,  and  in  comparison  with  that  of  other  large 


728  BIOGRAPHICAL,   HISTORY    OF    THE 

cities,  the  envy  of  them  all  in  this  respect.  The  name  heading 
this  sketch  is  that  of  one  of  the  best  known  of  the  generation  of 
lawyers  to  which  we  refer,  from  the  fact  that  his  success  at  the  bar 
has  shown  him  to  be  possessed  of  most,  if  not  all,  of  those  qualifica- 
tions which  are  requisite  to  the  conduct  of  a  large  and  varied  law 
practice,  and  the  more  than  ordinary  degree  of  success  which  has 
attended  him  is  merely  evidence  of  his  ability  to  properly  apply 
them  in  his  chosen  profession. 

Daniel  Donahoe  was  born  April  10th,  1855,  on  a  farm  in  Mc- 
Henry  County,  Illinois,  where  his  parents,  John  and  Johanna 
(Long)  Donahoe,  had  located  in  1851,  on  their  arrival  in  this  coun- 
try from  their  native  place,  County  Cork,  Ireland.  William,  father 
of  John  Donahoe,  also  from  the  Emerald  Isle,  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  McHenry  County,  near  what  is  now  the  town  of  Huntley, 
where  he  died  in  1880,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years.  He  is 
well  remembered  by  our  subject,  his  grandson. 

After  a  course  in  the  public  schools,  Daniel  Donahoe  continued 
his  studies  at  the  Elgin  Academy.  From  Elgin  he  returned  home 
and  worked  on  the  farm  until  he  entered  Notre  Dame  University 
at  South  Bend,  Indiana,  in  1879,  taking  the  law  course,  and  gradu- 
ated from  that  department  in  1881.  In  that  year  his  father  died, 
and,  returning  home,  he  continued  the  superintendence  of  affairs 
there  until  1882,  when  he  came  to  Chicago  and  engaged  in  the  ac- 
tive practice  of  his  profession  in  the  office  of  Judge  John  Gibbons. 
In  1888  he  formed  a  co-partnership  writh  Mr.  Joseph  David,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Donahoe  &  David,  which  continued  until  1894. 
Since  then  Mr.  Douahoe  has  been  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Donahoe  &  Hartnett  (his  partner  being  Mr.  James  Hartnett),  with 
offices  in  the  Ashland  Block.  Their  large  practice,  while  it  has 
been  largely  in  the  criminal  courts,  has  now  reached  that  state 
where  it  extends  to  the  whole  varied  field  of  general  litigation, 
both  in  the  state  and  federal  jurisdictions. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  72$ 

Among  the  notable  and  even  famous  cases  in  which  Daniel 
Donahoe  figured  conspicuously  as  attorney  and  counselor,  may  be 
mentioned  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quiricy  Railroad  dynamite 
cases,  tried  at  Geneva,  111.,  in  1888;  a  mysterious  murder  case 
known  as  the  Italian  "trunk  murder,"  in  which  Mr.  Douahoe,  as- 
sociated with  JS".  C.  (now  Judge)  Sears,  successfully  defended  two 
of  the  defendants,  securing  their  acquittal.  In  the  course  of  the 
celebrated  anarchist  trials,  Mr.  Donahoe  was  selected  by  State's 
Attorney  Julius  Grinnell,  and  disposed  of  an  immense  volume  of 
important  public  business  which  otherwise  would  have  fallen  to 
the  care  of  First  Assistant  State's  Attorney  Frank  AValker,  en- 
gaged in  the  anarchist  case.  The  Eugene  Doughertj  murder  case 
was  a  notable  legal  triumph  for  Mr.  Donahoe.  The  accused,  though 
ably  defended  by  that  distinguished  lawyer,  W.  W.  O'Brien,  was 
convicted  and  sent  to  the  penitentiary,  from  whence,  three  years 
afterwards,  on  purely  legal  grounds,  he  was  sent  back- to  Chicago 
for  a  new  trial,  at  which,  defended  by  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  he 
was  acquitted.  A  case  famous  in  the  annals  of  criminal  jurisdic- 
tion, in  which  Daniel  Douahoe  achieved  very  considerable  renown, 
was  that  of  Timothy  O'Grady,  tried  and  convicted  of  the  killing  of 
Police  Officer  Michael  O'Brien.  Mr.  Donahoe,  who  defended  the 
accused,  was  positive  that  it  was  a  case  of  mistaken  identity,  and 
worked  incessantly  in  the  matter,  even  after  the  man  was  com- 
mitted to  the  penitentiary.  He  interested  Governor  Fifer  in  the 
case,  and  finally  succeeded  in  establishing  the  fact  that  a  man 
named  Dyer  Scanlan,  who  was  at  large  in  Chicago  when  O'Grady 
was  being  tried  for  the  crime,  was  really  the  guilty  person.  Scan- 
Ian  also  was  convicted  of  shooting  a  member  of  the  police  force, 
and  when  in  the  penitentiary  confessed  the  shooting  for  which 
O'Grady  was  imprisoned. 

Mr.  Donahoe  figured  prominently  in  the  celebrated  Cronin  case, 
on  the  first  trial  defending  two  of  the  co-defendants,  Patrick  Sulli- 


730  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

van  and  John  Kunze,  and  also  in  the  second  trial  of  Dan  Coughlin, 
which  grew  out  of  the  Cronin  case.  In  the  defense  of  Coughlin, 
which  resulted  in  acquittal,  he  was  associated  with  Judge  Wing. 
The  trial  concluded  with  a  masterly  summing  up  of  the  entire  case, 
the  final  address  of  Mr.  Donahoe  to  the  jury  consuming  three  entire 
days.  The  sensational  North  Side  election  cases  are  others  in 
which  Mr.  Donahoe  took  a  leading  part,  commencing  with  the  trial 
of  one  "Major"  Sampson,  with  seven  other  co-defendants,  tried  for 
assaulting  a  man  named  Dixon  at  a  polling  booth  on  election  day, 
November  6th,  1894.  Notwithstanding  the  relentless  prosecution 
maintained  by  the  Marquette  Club  and  other  political  organiza- 
tions, Mr.  Donahoe  secured  their  acquittal.  In  the  subsequent 
trial  of  Alderman  O'Malley  and  John  Santry,  on  a  charge  of  mur- 
der, from  which  the  two  defendants,  after  a  most  bitterly  con- 
tested trial  on  the  part  of  the  state,  were  not  only  triumphantly 
acquitted,  but  publicly  exonerated  by  the  jury,  Mr.  Donahoe,  as- 
sociated with  his  law  partner,  Mr.  James  Hartnett,  successfully 
defended  the  latter. 

In  politics  Mr.  Donahoe  is  a  consistent  Democrat,  and  from  the 
time  of  his  first  vote  his  sympathy  and  support  have  ever  been  with 
the  Democratic  party,  of  which  he  is  a  valued  and  recognized  mem- 
ber, lie  believes,  however,  in  a  great  measure  of  political  inde- 
pendence, and  his  party  allegiance  neither  has,  nor  will,  lead  him 
to  support  partisan  candidates  or  platforms  as  such,  without  his 
confidence  in  the  fitness  of  the  one  or  his  convictions  as  to  the  jus- 
tice of  the  other. 

In  August,  1886,  Mr.  Donahoe  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Theresa  Boyle,  daughter  of  Henry  Boyle,  of  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia, 
to  which  place  the  family  remoAred  during  the  childhood  of  Mrs. 
Donahoe.  To  them  have  been  born  two  children,  Henry,  on  March 
4th,  1888,  and  Leo,  in  May,  1892. 

Characteristically,  Mr.  Donahoe  is  active  and  aggressive.    With 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  731 

him  to  think  is  to  act,  and  in  discharging  the  duties  of  the  citizen 
in  private  life,  lie  is  as  intolerant  of  misrepresentation,  chicanery 
and  fraud  as  he  would  be  in  meeting  such  equivocal  elements  in 
the  course  of  professional  duty.  In  the  defense  of  right,  as  in  the 
assistance  of  the  oppressed,  his  immediate  sympathy  and  support 
can  ever  be  counted  on,  and  seeking  no  preferment,  either  social 
or  political,  his  entire  time  is  devoted  to  the  interests  of  his  pro- 
fession and  the  welfare  and  happiness  of  his  family. 


MARK  J.  MCNAMARA. 


Mark  J.  McNamara,  a  bright  and  very  promising  young  lawyer 
of  Chicago,  was  born  in  this  city,  March  5th,  1872. 

The  education  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  received  in  the 
public  schools  of  this  city,  and  afterwards  at  Pio  Nono  College,  St. 
Francis,  Milwaukee  County,  Wis.  After  leaving  college,  he  en- 
tered th*  employment  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railway 
Company,  remaining  in  the  law  department  for  five  years,  with  evi- 
dent satisfaction  to  the  company.  As  a  young  man  of  enterprise, 
however,  he  considered  that  he  could  do  better  with  his  life  than 
by  staying  with  a  railway  corporation,  so  he  entered  the  Chicago 
College  of  Law,  and,  after  a  two  years'  course,  commenced  to  prac- 
tice for  himself  in  this  city,  and  in  the  three  years,  since  1893,  in  his 
profession,  has  already  made  a  very  creditable  reputation. 

In  proof  that  his  abilities  have  been  recognized  may  be  recorded 
the  circumstance  of  his  nomination  by  the  Sound  Money  Democrats 
for  the  Legislature  in  the  Eleventh  Senatorial  District,  which, 


732  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

though  he  met  with  defeat,  was  a  decided  honor  for  so  young  a 
man. 

Mr.  McNamara  is  a  Roman  Catholic  in  his  religious  belief,  and 
was  a  member  of  St.  Oolumbkill's  Young  Men's  Catholic  Associa- 
tion for  a  number  of  years.  A  Democrat  in  his  politics,  he  actively 
supported,  and  in  the  last  election  voted  for,  Major  McKinley.  He 
is  a  lover  of  music  and  of  literature,  and  keeps  up  an  extensive 
reading  of  all  the  standard  works  of  the  day. 

That  his  tastes  are  intellectual,  and  his  habits  of  a  very  ener- 
getic character,  every  action  of  his  life  up  to  the  present  time  for- 
cibly demonstrates.  Before  him  unquestionably  is  an  honorable 
and  highly  successful  career. 


EDMUND   M.  LAHIFF. 


Edmund  M.  Lahiff,  private  secretary  to  Hon.  Carter  Harrison, 
Mayor  of  this  city,  is  a  newspaper  man  of  considerable  mark  in 
that  profession,  and  for  so  young  a  mau  has  had  a  rather  remarka- 
ble career  and  has  attained  no  mean  reputation  and  appreciation 
from  the  community  at  large.  lie  was  born  at  Whitegate,  County 
Cork,  Ireland,  in  1863,  receiving  a  first  class  education  at  St.  Vin- 
cent's Seminary  in  Cork  City.  His  father,  Patrick  Laliiff,  was  a 
splendid  type  of  the  Irish  "country  town."  merchant.  From  his 
mother  he  got  the  characteristics  of  Irish  fire  and  daring  that  goes 
with  the  blood  of  the  Barrys  and  the  Maguires.  He  was  twenty- 
three  years  of  age  when  he  first  came  to  this  country,  and  his  finan- 
cial resources  being  exhausted,  he  was  forced  to  accept  whatever 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  735 

work  he  could  find,  and  set  out  by  shoveling  coal  on  one  of  the  De- 
troit docks  (W.  P.  Rend's  at  Eighteenth  Street  in  that  city).  After 
a  year  on  the  docks  he  took  charge  of  one  of  Mr.  Rend's  coal  yards. 
Newspaper  work  was  then  taken  up,  and  has  been  followed  most 
successfully  by  him  until  his  recent  appointment  by  Mayor  Harri- 
son. Mr.  Lahiff's  journalistic  career  has  been  chiefly  on  the  st;ilT 
of  the  "Times-Herald"  and  its  predecessor,  the  "Herald,"  as  a  po- 
litical reporter,  in  which  capacity  he  has  made  considerable  mark 
and  managed  to  obtain  a  wide  acquaintance  with  politicians  and 
public  men.  In  1894  he  went  East  and  spent  a  year  in  the  employ 
of  the  "New  York  World,"  and  on  behalf  of  that  paper  hired  him- 
self out  to  the  Carnegie  Company  as  a  "scab"  worker,  in  order  to 
gain  admission  to  the  fortified  works  of  the  firm.  Here  Mr.  Lahiff, 
along  with  some  forty  of  the  non-union  workmen,  was  the  victim  of 
poisoned  food,  supposed  to  have  been  prepared  by  sympathizers 
with  the  strikers,  and  he  was  for  some  weeks  seriously  ill  in  a  hos- 
pital. Two  years  after  this  Mr.  Lahiff  accomplished  a  feat  that 
made  him  a  name  among  the  newspaper  men  of  the  country  and 
also  made  him  known  to  thousands  of  the  reading  public,  this 
achievement  being  quite  a  lengthy  interview  with  the  Rt.  lion. 
William  E.  Gladstone  upon  the  leading  topics  of  the  day.  It  was 
especially  notable  as  being  the  first  instance  in  which  Mr.  Glad- 
stone had  consented  to  an  interview  with  a  newspaper  representa- 
tive. 

Mr.  Lahiff  was  appointed  some  months  ago  as  a  member  of  the 
County  Civil  Service  Commission,  a  position  he  resigned  to  accept 
his  present  arduous  and  important  post.  For  the  place,  he  is 'a 
man  in  all  ways  most  eminently  fitted,  for,  in  addition  to  a  pleasing 
personality,  a  very  courteous  manner,  a  patient  and  self-controlled 
temperament,  he  is  also  graced  with  considerable  acumen  and 
knowledge  of  human  nature. 


736  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 


* 

ALEXANDER  COLLINS. 


The  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  one  of  this  city's  best  known 
and  most  enterprising  young  lawyers,  was  born  in  Chicago  October 
1st,  18G(i.  Of  his  parents,  Henry  T.  and  Catherine  J.  (Conway)  Col- 
lins, both  were  natives  of  County  Meath,  which  they  left  for  the 
United  States  about  1852.  For  two  years  Henry  T.  Collins  re- 
mained in  New  York  and  the  mother  of  our  subject  in  Syracuse,  and 
it  was  about  1858  that  each  came  West  and  settled  in  Chicago.  He 
had  been  a  farmer  in  Ireland,  but  in  this  city  the  grocery  business 
was  taken  up,  and  this  he  followed  for  a  number  of  years,  when  he 
began  to  trade  in  hides  and  tallow.  His  affairs  prospered  and  he 
is  now  retired. 

Alexander  Collins  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  this  city,  afterwards  taking  up  the  study  of  law  with  J.  Lisle 
and  Eli  B.  Felsenthal,  with  whom  he  remained  for  six  years,  during 
three  of  which  he  also  taught  school.  He  was  admitted  to  practice 
November  13th,  1887,  and  at  once  began  to  do  business  in  the  firm 
of  II.  E.  Cross  and  Collins,  which  became  afterwards  Craft,  Cross  & 
Collins.  Later  Mr.  Collins  opened  an  office  and  continued  his  pro- 
fessional business  in  his  own  name.  His  success  altogether  has 
been  of  a  very  appreciable  character;  during  the  administration  of  s 
Mayor  Washburne  his  abilities  received  recognition  by  his  appoint- 
ment as  assistant  prosecuting  attorney,  and  he  has  already  taken  a 
liigli  place  in  the  very  full  complement  of  legal  service  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Collins  was  married  in  Chicago  April  14th,  1887,  to  Gertrude 
Curran,  and  they  have  a  family  of  two  children. 

A  Kepublioan  always  in  his  political  views  on  national  affairs, 
as  regards  municipal  offices  his  faith  is  given  to  the  man  most  fitted 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  737 

for  the  office,  despite  any  party  affiliations.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  and  also  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  in  the 
latter  having  filled  all  the  subordinate  offices,  and  being  at  the  pres- 
ent time  a  member  of  the  Grand  Council. 

Mr.  Collins  has  traveled  extensively  throughout  the  United 
States,  is  a  man  well  informed  upon  all  necessary  subjects,  is  free 
and  generous  in  his  character,  pleasant  and  courteous  in  his  man- 
ner, and  in  all  ways  a  good  representative  of  the  American  Irish  in 
Chicago. 


PATRICK   CAVANAGH. 


In  the  records  of  Irishmen  in  Chicago,  there  is,  perhaps,  no 
name  better  known  or  signifying  more  of  patriotism,  of  true  Chris- 
tianity, of  charity  and  nobility  of  character,  than  that  of  the  late 
Patrick  Cavanagh.  His  death  on  Wednesday,  October  9th,  1895, 
was  a  blow  to  the  whole  community,  and  removed  from  a  sphere  of 
great  usefulness  and  honor  a  man  who  exemplified  in  his  strong 
personality  the  highest  type  of  citizen.  The  following  sketch  is 
from  the  pen  of  one  of  his  associates,  and  in  nothing  said  therein 
is  his  character  overstated:  "Patrick  Cavanagh  was  born  in  1842, 
on  a  farm  near  Omagh,  County  Tyrone,  a  portion  of  the  Emerald 
Isle,  famous  for  the  production  of  so  many  earnest  Catholics,  where 
members  of  the  church  must,  understand  their  faith  to  uphold  it 
and  love  it  to  defend.  For  a  short  period  after  coming  to  this 
country,  in  1863,  he  tarried  in  the  Quaker  City,  but  that  location 
proved  too  quiet  for  his  energetic  temperament,  and  he  moved  to 
Detroit.  Here  he  entered  business,  continuing  until  1866,  when 


738  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE 

the  opportunities  of  Chicago  engaged  his  attention,  and  resulted 
in  his  permanently  locating  in  the  latter  city.  In  connection  with 
Mr.  Bodle,  he  organized  the  firm  of  Cavanagh  &  Bodle,  to  engage 
in  the  wholesale  liquor  trade.  This  partnership  continued  until 
1881,  when  Mr.  Bodle  withdrew,  and  the  business  was  subsequently 
continued  under  the  name  of  Cavanagh  &  Co.,  with  offices  and  ware- 
rooms  at  Cass  and  Kiuzie  Streets, 

"No  Catholic  of  this  city  has,  according  to  his  means,  been  a 
more  frequent  or  generous  giver  than  Mr.  Cavanagh,  whether  the 
cause  was  Ireland's  aid,  church  building  in  missionary  countries, 
local  charities  or  parish  calls.  His  name  appears  upon  the  scroll 
of  liberality  in  the  halls  of  the  Catholic  University,  and  many  an 
Irish  church  is  more  beautiful  by  the  contributions  he  has  made, 
lie  has  at  all  times  been  closely  in  touch  with  Catholic  life,  and 
few  laymen  had  a  wider  circle  of  acquaintances  among  the  hier- 
archy and  clergy — an  acquaintance  not  merely  in  form,  but  also  in 
friendship.  From  its  inception  to  its  dissolution,  he  was  one  of 
the  most  faithful  members  of  the  Irish-American  Club.  lie  was  also 
a  member  of  the  Columbus  Club,  and  a  most  enthusiastic  supporter 
of  Sherman  Council  of  the  Young  Men's  Institute,  and  one  of  the 
most  respected  members  of  the  Cathedral  congregation. 

"July  26th,  1871,  Mr.  Cavanagh  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mar- 
garet, the  amiable  and  accomplished  daughter  of  Judge  John  Dil- 
lon, of  Joliet,  Illinois.  Her  brother,  Rev.  Patrick  Dillon,  was  for 
some  years  President  of  Notre  Dame  University,  and  another 
brother,  Father  James  Dillon,  was  Vice  President  of  the  same  in- 
stitution. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cavanagh  were  born  four  children. 
Charles,  the  eldest  son,  after  completing  the  university  course  at 
Notre  Dame,  finished  his  law  studies  at  Harvard,  and  is  with  the 
law  firm  of  Isham,  Lincoln  &  Beales,  and  since  his  admission  to 
the  bar  has  made  a  place  for  himself  among  the  brightest  and  most 
promising  of  the  younger  generation  of  attorneys,  and  is  at  present 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  739 

the  administrator  of  his  father's  estate.  Thomas  is  pursuing  his 
studies  at  Notre  Dame,  and  has  won  considerable  renown  for  his 
prowess  in  athletic  sports,  as  well  as  in  the  study  rooms.  The  eld- 
est daughter,  Mildred,  graduated  with  honor  at  the  Sacred  Heart 
Academy,  Manhattanville,  while  her  younger  sister,  Aileen,  is  pur- 
suing her  studies  at  the  Sacred  Ileart  Academy  on  North  State 
Street. 

"Energetic,  and  overflowing  with  vitality  and  good  fellowship, 
Mr.  Cavanagh's  circle  of  friends  was  limited  only  by  his  acquaint- 
ances, and  when  the  end  came,  as  it  did  suddenly,  his  passing  away 
brought  regret  and  sorrow  to  many,  and  the  magnificent  assem- 
blage which  gathered  at  the  Cathedral  of  the  Holy  Name  to  pay 
reverent  respect  and  honor  to  his  memory,  was  eloquent  testimony 
of  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  in  this  city,  as  well  as  of  the 
number  and  character  of  his  friends." 


JAMES  J.    EGAN. 

Worthily  in  the  front  rank  of  his  important  and  difficult  voca- 
tion, James  J.  Egan,  the  well  known  architect,  possesses  a  very 
large  circle  of  professional  and  social  friends.  The  mention  of  his 
name  irresistibly  recalls  to  those  familiar  with  the  toil  and  ambi- 
tion which  necessarily  preceded  the  building  of  "Greater  Chicago," 
an  immense  field  of  labor  successfully  and  honorably  accomplished. 
Just  as  the  names  of  some  professional  and  business  men  who  have 
passed  into  the  history  of  Chicago,  suggest  the  fulfillment  of  im- 
portant enterprises,  in  this  most  enterprising  of  cities,  so  also  the 
name  of  J.  J.  Egan  will  be  identified  with  the  architectural  and 
building  interests  of  Chicago  for  many  years  to  coine. 


740  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in  the  city  of  Cork,  Ireland, 
the  15th  of  October,  1841.  His  father  was  William  Egan,  a  well 
known  builder  and  contractor,  many  of  whose  works  exist  to  this 
day  in  the  city  of  Cork,  notably  the  Athenaeum  building,  the  tower 
of  the  Cathedral,  Bank  of  Ireland  and  other  buildings.  His  moth- 
er's, maiden  name  was  Fitzgerald — Mary  Fitzgerald,  the  daughter 
of  a  country  gentleman,  and  a  woman  of  the  highest  personal  char- 
acter and  liberal  education.  To  her  wise  and  affectionate  training 
young  Egan  owed  much,  especially  that  invaluable  moulding  of 
character  which  is  best  achieved  in  the  susceptible  period  of  youth. 
Mr.  Egau's  direction  of  study  was  mapped  out  early  in  his  life,  and 
his  preparatory  education  for  the  professions  of  engineering  and 
architecture,  quite  often  united  in  that  day,  received  most  careful 
development  and  supervision  from  both  his  parents.  This  prepara- 
tory education  was  chiefly  gained  at  the  private  academy  of  Doctor 
O'Keefe,  a  noted  scholar  of  his  time  and  afterwards  eminent  as  a 
physician  and  surgeon.  In  his  thirteenth  year  young  Egan  attend- 
ed the  Government  School  of  Design  and  continued  his  art  studies 
for  several  years*  He  entered  Queen's  University,  Ireland — 
Queen's  College,  Cork — when  but  seventeen  years  old,  and  in  his 
third  year  won  a  scholarship  in  science.  The  sudden  death  of  his 
father  led  to  his  leaving  college  after  completing  this  three  years' 
course,  and  he  thereupon  entered  the  practice  of  his  profession,  tak- 
ing up  the  affairs  of  his  father's  business  and  completing  several 
works  that  were  in  progress  at  the  time  of  his  death.  After  study- 
ing for  some  time  with  a  local  architect,  Mr.  Egan  came  to  the 
United  States,  arriving  in  New  York  in  1866,  where  he  continued 
to  work  as  an  architectural  draughtsman  and  student,  spending 
about  five  years  with  the  late  I.  F.  Duckworth,  a  prominent  archi- 
tect of  that  time.  It  was  shortly  before  the  "great  fire"  of  1871  that 
Mr.  Egan  arrived  in  Chicago,  and  he  had  but  fairly  well  established 
his  office  here  when  he  shared  the  general  fate  of  being  burned  out 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  741 

and  was  compelled  to  begiii  Chicago  life  all  over  again.  In  connec- 
tion with  another  architect,  his  partner  at  that  time,  he  was  com- 
missioned to  build  the  old  jail  and  criminal  court  house  building, 
and  from  that  time  to  the  present  J.  J.  Egau  has  been  continually 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  architecture  in  Chicago.  The  work 
which  perhaps  more  than  any  other  brought  this  accomplished 
architect  most  prominently  into  public  view  was  the  Cook  County 
court  house  building,  which  with  the  city  hall  tills  what  is  gener- 
ally known  as  the  Court  House  Square.  This  great  building,  hold- 
ing the  courts  and  the  county  offices  and  departments,  massive  and 
impressive  as  it  is  admitted  to  be,  is  nevertheless  not  at  all  equal 
to  Mr.  Egan's  idea  and  original  design,  which  had  to  be  modified 
to  suit  the  amount  that  at  the  time  could  be  expended  upon  it.  Of 
churches  in  Chicago  Mr.  Egan  has  designed  St  John's,  St.  Jarlath's, 
St.  James' — in  part — St.  Elizabeth's,  St.  Vincent's  and  Holy  An- 
gels; the  De  La  Salle  Institute  and  St.  James  High  School,  Chi- 
cago, the  notable  Hotel  Ryan,  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  the  Spaulding  Hotel, 
Duluth,  Minn.,  the  Catholic  Cathedral  of  Davenport,  la.,  and  the 
Catholic  Cathedral  of  San  Francisco.  There  are  also  many  other 
public  and  private  edifices  designed  by  Mr.  Egan  and  erected  under 
his  direct  personal  supervision;  a  sufficient  number  of  them  to 
make  an  interesting  chapter  of  the  active  duties  of  his  twenty-five 
years  of  busy  and  responsible  professional  life. 

In  religion  Mr.  Egan  is  and  always  has  been  a  Roman  Catholic, 
and  he  has  ever  been  a  consistent  and  sincere  friend  of  the  many 
.worthy  educational  and  charitable  interests  so  actively  promoted 
by  that  church.  While  abstaining  from  anything  that  could  pos: 
sibly  be  called  active  political  life,  he  was  in  earlier  years  known 
as  a  Democrat,  in  later  life  he  is  inclined  to  take  a  more  independ- 
ent position  and  support  only  those  men  and  principles  which,  as 
he  estimates  them,  best  represent  the  general  good. 

In  1876  Mr.  Egan  married  Miss  Margaret  M.  O'Shea,  an  event 


742  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE 

which  led  to  a  happy  domestic  life.  His  marriage,  as  he  once  char- 
acteristically put  it,  to  a  personal  friend,  was  in  his  opinion  the 
best  thing  he  ever  did ;  and  lie  only  regretted  that  it  did  not  hap- 
pen sooner. 


JOSEPH   MEDILL. 


Beyond  all  question,  pre-eminent  in  the  west  is  this  great  Amer- 
ican journalist,  this  Nestor  of  one  of  the  world's  greatest  papers, 
the  "Chicago  Tribune."  It  was  on  April  6th,  1823,  on  a  farm  situ- 
ated on  the  St.  John  river,  in  New  Brunswick,  that  Joseph  Medill 
was  born  of  Irish  parents,  and  here  he  remained  until  nine  years  of. 
age,  when,  with  the  family,  a  move  was  made  to  Northern  Ohio. 

He  studied  law  at  Massillon,  and  in  November,  1846,  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  at  New  Philadelphia,  Ohio,  a  partnership  being  im- 
mediately formed  with  George  W.  Mcllvane,  afterward  chief  jus- 
tice of  the  Ohio  supreme  court.  The  tastes  and  inclinations  of  Mr. 
Medill,  however,  were  not  altogether  of  the  legal  order,  and  in  1849 
he  moved  to  Coshoctou,  Ohio,  and  began  the  publishing  of  the 
"Weekly  Republican."  So  successful  was  this  venture  that  he 
sought  a  larger  field,  and  in  1852  moved  to  Cleveland,  where  he 
established  a  daily  paper,  which  he  called  the  "Forest  City,"  and" 
which  is  still  in  existence,  although  it  is  now  known  as  the  "Cleve- 
land Leader."  In  1854  Mr.  Medill  was  one  of  twelve  men  who  held 
a  meeting  in  Cleveland  and  organized  as  the  nucleus  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  In  conjunction  with  Dr.  C.  H.  Ray,  of  Galena,  he  pur- 
chased, in  1855,  the  "Chicago  Tribune,"  then  a  struggling  and  un- 
profitable daily.  His  keen  ability  and  wonderful  faculties  quickly, 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  743 

however,  made  the  paper  not  only  a  profitable  venture,  but  a  tower 
of  strength,  and  its  power  was  used  to  the  benefit  of  the  nation. 
Mr.  Medill  it  was  who  discovered  that  noble  and  grand  natured 
American,  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  started  him  on  the  road  which 
led  to  the  presidency.  Mr.  Medill  was  a  member,  in  1869,  of  the 
constitutional  convention,  and  two  years  later  President  Grant  ap- 
pointed him  a  member  of  the  Civil  Service  Commission,  for  which 
the  independence  of  his  character  and  the  breadth  of  his  views  emi- 
nently fitted  him.  Later  in  the  same  year,  and  immediately  fol- 
lowing the  great  fire,  he  was  elected  by  three-fourths  of  all  the 
votes  cast  Mayor  of  Chicago,  but  two  months  before  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  office  he  resigned,  and  went  abroad  to  restore  his 
shattered  health.  Returning  home  in  1874,  he  bought  the  "Trib- 
une" outright,  and  assumed  supreme  control  of  its  policy  and  its 
business.  Powerful  though  his  voice  has  been  in  the  government 
both  of  city  and  the  state,  Mr.  Medill  has  since  that  time  held  no 
public  office. 

From  1892  to  the  present  time  the  greater  portion  of  each  year 
has  been  spent  at  Los  Angeles,  at  Southern  California.  He  has 
two  daughters,  Mrs.  Robert  W.  Patterson,  Jr.,  whose  husband  is, 
after  Medill,  the  master  mind  of  the  "Tribune,"  and  Mrs.  Robert  H. 
McCormick. 

The  "Chicago  Tribune,"  with  Joseph  Medill  as  its  guide,  has 
been  a  leader  of  thought,  and  the  views  of  its  editor  have  for  many 
years  been  potent  in  crystallizing  public  sentiment  It  has  never 
manifested  any  servility;  never  catered  to  bosses;  never  sacrificed 
principle  to  policy;  never  played  the  sycophant.  Indeed,  the 
strong  personality  of  its  editor  pervades  every  issue.  Regarding 
Mr.  Medill,  the  words  of  a  Western  writer  a  few  years  since  may 
be  quoted:  "In  social  intercourse  he  is  agreeable  and  entertain- 
ing. He  indulges  little  in  'small  talk'  or  airy  compliments;  nor  is 
he  in  the  least  pedantic.  His  conversation  flows  from  the  fullness 

40 


744  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OP   THE 

of  information  garnered  in  many  years  of  thoughtful  study  and 
careful  observation;  it  is  consequently  both  interesting  and  in- 
structive. In  his  character  are  assembled  all  the  attributes  essen- 
tial to  greatness  in  a  chosen  career,  and  the  habits  of  his  life  have 
conserved  these  attributes  in  the  highest  degree.  Original  in 
thought  and  method  himself,  he  has  never  been  in  any  sense  an 
imitator  of  others^  and  yet  his  own  professional  and  official  career 
presents  an  example  worthy  of  the  most  careful  study  and  emula- 
tion by  others." 


JUDGE   FRANK  SCALES. 


One  must  go  back  some  generations  to  Ulster  to  find  the  Scales 
in  Ireland.  On  this  side  of  the  sea  the  American  representatives  of 
the  family  settled  in  North  Carolina,  where  they  have  increased 
and  multiplied  and  generally  flourished.  They  are  known  in  Illi- 
nois and  in  Wisconsin  and  at  least  one,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
may  well  claim  to  be  almost  universally  known  in  Chicago.  He  cer- 
tainly is  esteemed  and  respected  by  a  multitude  of  friends  in  pri- 
vate life,  while  his  popularity  in  the  community  generally  is  best 
indicated  by  the  fact  of  his  election  to  the  bench,  to  fill  the  pecul- 
iarly difficult  and  responsible  place  of  Judge  of  the  County  Court 
in  this,  the  second  city  in  the  United  States. 

Frank  Scales  was  born  at  White  Oak  Springs,  Lafayette 
County,  Wisconsin.  This  county  adjoins  Jo  Daviess  County,  Illi- 
nois, where  the  Scales  family  has  long  been  known,  in  fact,  Scales 
Mo.und,  Illinois,  was  named  after  the  father  of  the  Judge  as  far 
back  as  1826.  This  gentleman,  Samuel  Henderson  Scales,  settled 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN   CHICAGO. 

iii  that  part  of  Illinois  when,  taken  generally,  it  was  a  pretty  wild 
sort  of  a  country.  He  came  west  from  Rockingham  County,  North 
Carolina,  where  he  was  born  about  1804.  The  mother  of  the  Judge, 
Malmla  (Hammond)  Scales,  was  a  daughter  of  the  Hammond  fam- 
ily of  Saugamon  County,  Illinois,  living  there  in  1823.  Fighting 
Indians  and  settling  lands  seem  to  have  been  the  favorite  pursuits 
of  the  representatives  of  the  Scales  family,  members  of  which  ac- 
tively participated  in  the  Seminole,  Black  Hawk  and  other  Indian 
wars,  and  so  far  as  the  record  shows,  Frank,  our  subject  in  Chicago, 
is  the  only  one  of  the  family  who  up  to  date  has  been  honored  by 
the  distinction  of  the  ermine  conferred  by  the  free  election  of  a 
sovereign  people.  His  early  life  was  on  a  Wisconsin  farm,  and  the 
scheme  of  education  was  with  him  primarily  commenced  at  the 
Catholic  Academy  of  Sinsinawa  Mound.  In  1864  young  Scales 
came  to  Chicago  and  went  into  regular  academic  training  at  the 
Academy  of  St.  Mary's  of  the  Lake,  on  the  site  of  the  present  Ca- 
thedral of  the  Holy  Name,  a  well  known  school,  at  that  time  under 
the  direction  of  the  Very  Rev.  Dr.  McMullen.  The  pursuit  of  a 
broader  and  fuller  education  took  him  to  the  University  of  Notre 
Dame,  South  Bend,  Ind.,  where  he  entered  the  spring  term  of  1866. 
From  thence  to  Georgetown  College,  District  of  Columbia,  till  the 
autumn  of  1868.  Af  this  time  the  serious  business  of  life  seemed 
to  open  out  to  the  young  student  with  something  of  a  definite  plan, 
and  he  came  to  Chicago  to  study  law,  entering  the  office  of  Kuowl- 
ton  and  Jamieson,  constituted  by  Judge  Knowlton  and  Egbert 
(afterwards  Judge)  Jamiesou.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1870, 
and  then  formed  a  partnership  with  Judge  Knowlton  unde»  the 
firm  style  and  title  of  Knowlton  &  Scales.  This  existed  till  1877, 
after  which  date  Judge  Scales  pursued  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion singly,  paying  special  attention  to  real  estate  law,  his  prac- 
tice being  mainly  what  is  known  in  the  legal  profession  as  office 
practice.  A  conservative  Democrat  in  his  political  views,  he  was 


746  BIOGRAPHICAL,   HISTORY   OF    THE 

nominated  for  Judge  of  the  County  Court  and  in  1890  was  elected 
to  the  bench  for  a  term  of  four  years.  The  position  of  County  Judge 
carries  with  it,  by  a  special  provision  of  the  law,  the  presidency  of 
the  Board  of  Election  Commissioners,  and  thus  is  at  once  apparent, 
in  so  large  a  city  as  Chicago,  with  its  enormous  electorate,  how 
difficult,  delicate  and  also  vitally  important  were  the  duties  which 
Judge  Scales  was  called  upon  to  discharge.  To  the  integrity  of 
the  judiciary  he,  in  the  peculiarly  trying  and  delicate  position  of 
president  of  the  Board  of  Election  Commissioners — the  impartial 
moderator,  so  to  speak,  between  the  representatives  of  two  or  three 
bitterly  opponent  parties — brought  a  clearness  of  view,  a  strong 
sense  of  right  and  a  fearlessness  in  the  discharge  of  often  unpleas- 
ant duty,  which  has  served  to  make  his  record  upon  the  bench  one 
of  those  chapters  in  the  history  of  the  Chicago  judiciary  of  which 
the  people  have  good  reason  to  be  proud.  After  his  retirement 
from  the  bench,  he  resumed  the  practice  of  the  law,  with  which  he 
yet  proceeds  in  a  large  and  steadily  growing  clientele. 

Judge  Scales  married  June  22nd,  1871,  Miss  Caroline  Bartlett, 
daughter  of  Luther  Bartlett  of  Boston,  well  known  as  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Du  Page  County,  111.,  and  a  representative  of  a  promi- 
nent New  England  family.  They  have  one  child,  Miss  Etta  Scales. 


MAURICE  T.   MOLONEY. 


Maurice  T.  Moloney,  late  Attorney  General  of  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois and  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  prominent  lawyers  of 
the  West,  was  born  July  26th,  1849,  in  the  parish  of  Listowel, 
County  Kerry,  Ireland.  ITe  belongs,  however,  to  the  well  known 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  747 

Moloney  family  of  Clare,  which  is  frequently  called  the  Moloney 
County.  Of  his  parents,  his  father  Timothy,  au  engineer  and  rail- 
road contractor,  married  Catherine  Enright,  and  died  in  1887.  The 
widow  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  ninety-two. 

Having  received  a  fair  classical  education  at  a  private  school 
of  his  native  town,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1867,  studied  philosophy  at  the  College  of  Our  Lady  of 
Angels,  Niagara  Falls,  and  afterwards  took  a  course  at  St.  Vin- 
cent's College,  Wheeling,  Penn.,  where  his  studies  were  chiefly  de- 
voted to  theological  subjects.  In  1870  and  1871  he  studied  law 
at  the  University  of  Virginia,  graduating  in  the  latter  year  with 
full  honors  and  the  degree  of  "Bachelor  of  Law."  In  the  fall  of 
the  latter  year  Mr.  Moloney  came  to  Illinois,  locating  at  Ottawa, 
the  county  seat  of  La  Salle  County,  where  he  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  law  and  continued  until  1892,  gaining  not  only  much  honor 
and  professional  success  but  establishing  himself  firmly  as  a  recog- 
nized leader  of  the  bar.  For  three  years  of  that  time  he  was  City 
Attorney  of  Ottawa,  for  four  years  State's  Attorney  of  La  Salle 
County,  and  for  seven  years  legal  adviser  of  the  County  Board  of 
Supervisors.  In  November,  1892,  Mr.  Moloney  was  elected  At- 
torney General  of  the  State  of  Illinois  for  four  years,  and  has  just 
completed  his  term  of  office.  In  his  official  capacity  he  has  proven 
himself  an  arduous  and  able  worker,  and  has  accomplished  a  great 
many  most  important  results,  and  has  carried  through  numerous 
measures  that  will  be  of  lasting  benefit  to  the  community.  Among 
these  latter  may  be  mentioned:  The  dissolution  of  the  Distilling 
and  Cattle  Feeding  Company,  commonly  the  "Whisky  Trust";  the 
dissolution  of  the  School  Furniture  Trust;  the  gigantic  Gas  Trust 
of  Chicago;  the  American  Tobacco  Company,  the  same  being  a  cor- 
poration organized  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  and 
being  organized  for  the  express  purpose  of  controlling  and  manipu- 
lating a  dozen  other  corporations  organized  for  the  purpose  of  man- 


748  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE 

ufacturing  cigarettes  and  other  kinds  of  tobacco,  and  which  con- 
trols the  output  of  ninety-five  per  cent  of  all  the  manufactured 
tobacco  in  the  country.  This  corporation  is  one  of  the  most  con- 
temptible and  odious  monopolies  of  the  many  odious  ones  existing 
in  this  country.  It  has  practically  met  its  death-blow  at  the  hands 
of  the  proceedings  instituted  by  him.  The  combination  among  the 
warehousemen  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  with  over  $100,000,000  of  cap- 
ital back  of  it,  has  been  declared  illegal,  and  the  warehousemen 
have  been  prohibited  from  dealing  or  mixing  their  grain  with  that 
of  third  parties.  This  was  a  combination  of  the  millionaires  of 
Chicago  and  the  East,  and  had  for  its  purpose  the  regulating,  con- 
trolling and  manipulating  the  price  of  grain  and  other  commodi- 
ties raised  by  the  farming  community  of  the  entire  Northwest. 

It  would  be  impossible  in  this  biographical  sketch  to  enumerate 
the  other  important  cases  instituted  and  completed  by  him. 

With  offices  in  the  Ashland  Block,  Mr.  Moloney  has  now  estab- 
lished the  law  firm  of  Moloney  &  Scofield,  the  latter  member  hav- 
ing been  one  of  his  assistants  during  his  term  of  office  as  Attorney 
General,  A  firm  started  under  such  auspices  and  with  the  peculiar 
advantages  and  experience  of  both  partners  has  a  prosperous  and 
honorable  career  assured. 

Mr.  Moloney  is  a  member  of  the  Columbus,  Sheridan  and  Iro- 
quois  Clubs,  and  previous  to  his  election  to  office  was  a  member  of 
the  Ancient  Order  of  Hibernians,  which  he  was  forced  to  resign, 
owing  to  lack  of  time.  In  his  religious  views  he  is  a  Roman  Cath- 
olic,, and  in  his  political  affiliations  has  always  remained  an  un- 
swerving Democrat. 

In  May,  1873,  Mr.  Moloney  was  married  to  Miss  Annie  J.  Gra- 
ham and  they  have  had  eight  children,  of  whom  five  are  living. 
The  two  eldest  sons  are  in  the  railroad  business  in  Chicago,  and 
the  youngest,  is  attending  the  Seminary  of  Our  Lady  of  Angels  at 
Niagara  Falls.  The  girls  are  both  at  the  convent  school  at  Ottawa. 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  749 

For  many  years,  and  more  especially  during  his  recently  expired 
term,  owing  to  the  heavy  nature'  of  his  professional  duties,  Mr.  Mo- 
loney  has  had  very  little  time  for  recreations 'or  indeed  for  anything 
else.  He  has,  however,  at  all  times,  been  a  most  omnivorous  reader, 
and  there  are  few  authorities  on  legal  points  with  which  he  has 
not  made  himself  thoroughly  familiar.  He  is  a  man  of  splendid 
constitution,  as  well  as  of  commanding  presence,  and  though  he  is 
at  times  accused  of  possessing  a  somewhat  abrupt  manner,  it  is 
suspected  that  this  was  assumed  during  his  term  of  office  to  get 
rid  of  annoying  place  hunters  who  would  monopolize  the  time  that 
should  be  devoted  to  the  interest  of  the  State.  There  is,  however, 
no  want  of  courtesy  and  that  his  disposition  is  warm  and  generous 
is  amply  testified  to  by  his  capacity  not  merely  for  making  friends 
but  also  for  retaining. 


REV.   W.   M.   FOLEY. 


This  young,  zealous  and  very  popular  priest,  who  is  pastor  of  the 
Church  of  St.  Catharine  of  Genoa,  at  One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth 
Street,  Gleuwood,  was  born  in  Chicago,  November  llth,  1863,  and 
was  brought  up  in  the  Annunciation  parish  on  the  north-west  side 
of  the  city.  His  parents,  Lawrence  and  Catharine  (Carroll)  Foley, 
were  natives  of  County  Wexford,  Ireland,  and  iu  the  same  county 
an  uncle,  who  has  been  in  the  priesthood  for  forty-five  years,  is  still 
living.  The  father  and  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  came 
to  the  United  States  about  1852,  settling  in  New  York,  but  moving 
later  to  Chicago,  where  they  were  married  in  1857.  They  are  still 
living,  Mr.  Lawrence  Foley  being  the  proprietor  of  an  undertak- 
ing establishment  on  Grand  Avenue,  near  Ashland  Boulevard. 


750  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

Father  Foley's  education  was  received  at  St.  Ignatius'  College, 
where  he  was  a  student  from  1877  to  1882,  afterwards  taking  a  five 
years'  philosophical  course  in  the  Catholic  University  at  Niagara 
Falls.  Fully  equipped  for  the  duties  of  the  priesthood,  he  was  or- 
dained in  Chicago,  June  4th,  1887,  and  was  assigned  as  assistant  to 
Father  Lyman  at  Pullman.  It  was  some  years  later  that  he  was 
transferred  to  his  present  mission,  and  the  church  he  now  occupies 
was  built  by  himself  on  the  site  of  the  old  Sharpshooters'  Park. 
An  active  worker  always,  Father  Foley  has  not  merely  assisted,  he 
has  also  instituted  and  organized  a  number  of  societies  for  the  bene- 
fit of  those  under  his  charge.  Among  these  may  be  enumerated  the 
Young  Men's  Society,  the  Marquette  Club,  the  Sheridan  Club  in 
Chicago  Heights,  the  Columbus  Club  in  Harvey,  and  ladies'  societies 
in  each  of  the  above  named  places.  He  has  been  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  for  the  past  eight  years,  hav- 
ing passed  through  the  various  chairs,  and  also  belongs  to  the 
Catholic  Benevolent  Legion. 


ROBERT  S.  SCOTT. 


Robert  S.  Scott,  of  the  firm  of  Carson,  Pirie,  Scott  £  Co.,  and  one 
of  Chicago's  most  respected  merchants  and  citizens,  was  born  near 
Belfast,  Ireland,  1838.  He  received  a  thorough  commercial  educa- 
tion at  the  best  schools  of  his  native  town  and  on  leaving  school 
entered  the  well-known  dry  goods  house  of  Henry  Hawkins  &  Co. 
Here,  instead  of  being  confined  to  one  department,  as  is  often  the 
case,  the  young  man  went  through  them  all,  as  it  was  a  thoroughly 
organized  department  store,  so  gaining  a  thorough  insight  and  com- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  753 

prehensive  knowledge  of  the  business  in  all  its  details.  After  four 
years  of  this  experience  Mr.  Scott  decided  to  try  the  broader  field 
of  the  new  world,  and  accordingly,  in  1856,  when  eighteen  years  of 
age,  started  from  his  native  shores  for  America,  and  came  to  Illi- 
nois, where  he  joined  Messrs.  Carson  and  Pirie.  The  then  young 
men  carried  on  a  successful  dry  goods  business  at  Amboy  and  Men- 
dota,  Illinois,  for  seven  or  eight  years,  and  then  came  to  Chicago  in 
the  spring  of  1864'.  They  started  at  20  Lake  Street  in  that  year, 
now  thirty-three  years  ago,  and  since  that  time  the  gradual  but  sure 
advancement  and  growth  of  the  now  famous  house  to  its  present 
proportions  is  a  matter  of  history.  The  success  of  the  concern, 
though  rapid,  was  solid,  until  to-day  the  firm  ranks  third  in  its  line 
in  the  country  and  bears  the  highest  reputation  for  fair  dealing 
and  honorable  business  methods. 

Mr.  Scott  is  very  decided  in  attributing  his  own  and  his  partners' 
success  very  largely  to  the  splendid  and  substantial  business  train- 
ing received  in  their  early  youth,  and  is  firmly  convinced  after  all 
these  years  of  experience  that  it  is  hard  to  improve  on  many  of  the 
old  methods  of  his  boyhood's  training.  Mr.  Scott  also  speaks  very 
warmly  and  in  affectionate  terms  of  his  own  domestic  training, 
and  of  the  high  principles  instilled  into  him  when  a  boy  by  his 
father  and  mother. 

Notwithstanding  the  exactions  of  his  enormous  business  Mr. 
Scott  has  found  time  to  be  quite  an  extensive  traveler,  not  only  in 
this  country  from  Maine  to  California,  but  in  Europe,  there  being 
few  points  or  cities  of  interest  on  that  continent  that  he  has  not 
visited. 

No  doubt  to  these  and  similar  trips  and  the  consequent  freedom 
from  business  cares  for  a  while  is  largely  due  the  health  that 
Mr.  Scott  almost  invariably  enjoys,  and  his  well  preserved  and  com- 
paratively youthful  appearance  and  feeling. 


754  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 


STANLEY  WATERLOO. 


Tliis  best  known  aiid  most  highly  considered  of  Western  writers 
and  novelists  was  born  May  21st,  1846,  in  St.  Glair  County,  Michi- 
gan. He  is  the  son  of  Charles  N.  and  Mary  J.  Waterloo,  of  whom 
the  first  was  of  English  and  the  latter  of  Irish  descent.  His  Amer- 
icanism, however,  cannot  in  any  way  be  disputed,  for  early  ances- 
tors, the  Vaughns  and  the  Archers,  had  come  to  this  country  in 
the  seventeenth  century. 

The  subject  of  this  short  sketch  received  his  education  in  the 
high  schools  of  St.  Clair,  Michigan,  and  later  at  the  University  of 
Michigan,  Ann  Arbor.  From  his  earlier  youth  his  intention  had 
been  to  embrace  a  military  career,  but  he  was  barred  from  admis- 
sion to  the  academy  by  the  accidental  loss  of  the  sight  of  one  eye 
while  breaking  in  a  vicious  horse.  His  collegiate  career  at  an  end, 
he  came  to  Chicago  in  1868,  and  immediately  took  up  the  study  of 
law,  but  he  has  never  practiced.  Instead,  he  entered  journalism, 
and  to  that  profession  he  has  adhered,  his  work  being  done  chiefly 
in  this  city,  but  he  was  also  for  several  years  in  St.  Louis.  In  an 
editorial  capacity  he  has  been  connected  with  the  "Chicago  Trib- 
une," the  "Chicago  Mail,"  the  "Evening  Journal"  and  other  dailies, 
devoting  what  spare  time  he  could  manage  to  other  outside  press 
work,  as  well  as  magazine  writing,  both  prose  and  verse.  Upon 
two  occasions  this  popularity  of  Mr.  Waterloo  among  his  associ- 
ates, and  his  position  in  the  newspaper  world  generally,  were  tes- 
tified to  by  his  election  as  president  of  the  Press  Club  of  Chicago, 
and  he  is  also  a  member  of  a  number  of  societies  and  organiza- 
tions, including  the  Press  Council  of  the  National  Union.  His 
work  of  late  years,  however,  has  been  of  a  more  pretentious  char- 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  755 

acter,  and  two  novels,  "An  Odd  Situation"  and  "A  Man  and  Wo- 
man," have  been  received  with  great  public  favor,  the  latter  especi- 
ally, which  was  reproduced  in  England  last  year,  making  for  him 
an  international  reputation. 

He  is  a  man  of  very  interesting  personality,  possesses  a  fund  of 
information  upon  a  vast  number  of  subjects,  and  the  number  of 
his  friends  is  only  to  be  estimated  by  those  who  have  the  fortune 
to  be  among  his  acquaintances. 


JOHN  A.  ROCHE. 


In  a  record  of  the  American  Irish  of  Chicago,  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  avoid  mention  of  this  public-spirited  citizen,  this  great 
railroad  and  prominent  business  representative,  John  A.  Roche. 
He  was  born  August  12th,  1844,  of  Irish  parentage,  in  Utica,  N.  Y., 
his'parents  being  William  and  Sarah  Roche.  Educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  he  graduated  at  the  age  of  seventeen  in  the  high  school, 
and  at  once  began  his  active  business  life.  His  first  employment 
was  as  a  pattern  maker  with  the  Alline  Works,  New  York,  where  he 
remained  as  an  apprentice  for  three  years,  attending  at  the  same 
time  the  Cooper  Institute  and  night  school.  His  next  work  was  as 
a  journeyman,  and  afterwards  he  was  engaged  as  a  draughtsman 
and  designer  on  steam  work  for  J.  R.  Robinson  of  Boston.  He  was 
in  that  employ  for  three  years,  subsequently  being  connected  with 
the  well-known  Corliss  Steam  Engine  Works,  for  two  years.  Coin- 
ing to  Chicago  in  1869,  he  began  business  as  a  dealer  in  machinery, 
taking  up  at  the  same  time  the  representation  of  various  eastern 
engine,  boiler  and  machinery  firms.  Finally  he  succeeded  to  part- 


756  BIOGRAPHICAL,   HISTORY  OP   THE 

nership  in  the  firm  of  James,  Roche  &  Spencer,  on  Lake  Street,  and 
here  he  stayed  until  the  fire  of  1871,  when  he  had  to  find  new  quar- 
ters on  South  Canal  Street.  Seven  years  having  passed,  he  be- 
came associated  with  J.  A.  Fay  &  Co.,  of  Cincinnati,  who  were  man- 
ufacturers of  wood-  working  machinery,  and  at  the  same  time 
agents  for  the  Putman  Machine  Company's  tools,  assuming  entire 
charge  of  the  company's  business  in  the  northwest. 

Mr.  Roche  was  elected  Mayor  of  Chicago  in  1887,  being  nom- 
inated in  the  Republican  couvention,  but  receiving  Democratic  as 
well  as  Republican  support  against  the  socialistic  candidate,  Rob- 
ert Nelson.  His  administration  of  the  city  affairs  was  a  notably 
clean  one;  the  gambling  houses  were  kept  tightly  closed,  and  a 
number  of  other  evils  corrected.  When  his  term  of  office  expired, 
he  once  more  devoted  himself  to  business,  and  became  vice  presi- 
dent and  manager  of  the  Crane  Elevator  Company.  He  was  elected 
in  1893  president  of  the  Lake  Street  Elevated  Railroad  Company,  a 
position  he  has  since  most  ably  filled. 

In  his  matrimonial  relations  Mr.  Roche  has  been  extremely 
happy.  He  was  married  June  22nd,  1871,  to  Emma  Howard  of  this 
city,  and  they  have  three  children  now  living,  Cora  E.,  Helen  M. 
and  John  A.,  Jr. 


MARTIN   J.   RUSSELL. 


This  well-known  Irish- American  Democratic  leader,  who  is  es- 
sentially a  Chicago  man,  was  bom  in  this  city,  December  20th, 
1845,  of  Irish  parents.  His  father  was  a  lake  captain,  and  was  lost 
with  a  vessel  in  a  storm  on  Lake  Michigan  a  few  weeks  before  the 
birth  of  his  son. 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  757 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools,  but  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War  went  with 
the  regiment  of  his  uncle  on  the  mother's  side,  Col.  James  A.  Mul- 
ligan, to  Missouri,  and  was  with  it  at  the  time  of  the  surrender  at 
Lexington.  However,  not  being  a  member  of  the  regiment,  he  was 
not  held  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  but  was  permitted  to  return  home. 
On  the  exchange  of  the  regiment  and  its  reorganization  at  Chicago 
as  the  Twenty-third  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  in  the  winter  of 
1861-2,  Mr.  Russell  became  second  lieutenant,  his  commission  bear- 
ing the  date  November  1st,  1861,  and  being  anterior  to  his  six- 
teenth birthday.  The  following  June  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
Virginia,  and  in  December  of  that  year,  on  Col.  Mulligan  being  as- 
signed to  the  command  of  a  brigade,  Lieutenant  Russell  received 
an  appointment  on  his  staff  as  assistant  adjutant  general,  serving 
with  him  through  the  various  campaigns  in  Virginia.  Col.  Mul- 
ligan was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Winchester,  and  the  regiment  was 
so  greatly  reduced  that  it  was  ordered  consolidated  into  five  com- 
panies, and,  consequently,  on  September  14th,  1864,  Lieutenant 
Russell  was  mustered  out  of  the  service,  and  returned  home. 

His  first  connection  with  newspaper  work  was  in  1870,  when  he 
became  a  reporter  on  the  "Chicago  Evening  Post,"  remaining  with 
that  paper  until  1873.  He  was  next  employed  on  the  city  staff 
of  the  "Chicago  Times,"  and  later  was  advanced  as  paragraphist 
to  the  editorial  staff  of  the  same  paper.  Mr.  Storey,  in  1876,  started 
the  "Telegram,"  an  afternoon  paper,  and  Martin  J.  Russell  was 
made  editor,  but  the  venture  proving  a  failure,  he  returned  to  the 
"Times,"  retaining  his  position  there  until  he  became  connected 
with  the  "Herald,"  in  August,  1883.  In  the  "Chicago  Herald"  Com- 
pany he  held  considerable  stock,  and  was  editor-in-chief  until  1886, 
when  he  severed  his  connection  and  returned  once  more  to  the 
"Times,"  of  which  he  became  leading  editorial  writer.  Since  the 
establishment  of  the  "Chicago  Chronicle,"  in  1895,  Mr.  Russell  has 


758  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE 

assumed  the  duties  of  editor-in-chief,  and  it  is  unquestionably  to 
the  brilliancy  of  his  pen  and  to  his  exceptionally  great  newspaper 
qualifications  that  that  daily  owes  much  of  the  position  it  has 
achieved. 

Mr.  Eussell  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  Hyde 
Park  from  1874  to  1880,  and  from  1876  to  1880  was  village  clerk  of 
that,  at  the  time,  suburb  of  Chicago.  In  1880  he  was  appointed 
by  the  Circuit  Judges  of  Cook  County,  South  Park  Commissioner, 
and  was  honored  with  reappointment  in  1885.  He  was  made  Col- 
lector of  the  Port  in  1894  by  President  Cleveland,  and  that  respon- 
sible position  he  still  holds. 

He  was  married  in  1873  to  Miss  Cecilia  C.  Walsh.  In  religion 
he  is  a  Roman  Catholic  and  a  valued  member  and  a  frequent  visitor 
to  the  Columbus  Club. 


FRANCIS  T.  MURPHY. 


This  great  Western  metropolis  contains  a  great  many  able 
men  who  have  made  the  law  the  profession  of  their  lives.  That  all 
should  be  equally  successful  in  such  a  career,  would  be  an  impossi- 
bility; the  prizes  in  life's  battle  are  few  and  far  between,  and  the 
fortunate  must  needs  be  gifted  with  qualifications  of  a  diverse 
character,  exceptional  legal  ability,  good  judgment,  ready  percep- 
tion, and  also  personal  charm  of  manner  or  power  of  yitellect  suffi- 
cient to  dominate  and  control  their  fellowmen.  Among  the  rep- 
resentative lawyers  of  the  west,  there  are  but  few  who  possess  these 
necessary  characteristics  in  a  higher  degree  than  the  subject  of  the 
present  sketch,  the  big,  genial-natured,  open-hearted  young  lawyer, 
Francis  T.  Murphy. 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  759 

He  was  born  in  this  city,  where  he  was  destined  to  make  him- 
self so  well  known,  January  25th,  18(>3,  his  father,  Thomas  Murphy, 
being  a  native  of  County  Meath,  Ireland,  and  his  mother  from  West 
Heath.  It  is  from  his  father  unquestionably  that  Francis  T.  in- 
herits his  perseverance  and  energy,  for  Thomas  Murphy  left  the 
dear  old  land  as  a  mere  boy  of  twelve,  traveled  all  alone  to  the  far 
country  beyond  the  seas,  where  he  possessed  neither  kith  nor  kin, 
friend  nor  acquaintance,  and  when  the  big  ocean  journey  was  fin- 
ished, set  off  once  more  across  the  continent  to  Chicago,  determined 
to  seek  a  living  and  possible  fortune  in  the  boundless  West.  In 
this  city  he  fought  his  way,  married,  and  in  1894  died  at  the  com- 
paratively premature  age  of  fifty-seven. 

Francis  T.  Murphy  received  his  education  in  the  St.  Vincent 
College  at  Cape  Girardeau,  Missouri,  and  having  decided  to  take  up 
the  legal  profession,  entered  the  Union  College  of  Law,  receiving 
later  his  license  to  practice  from  the  Supreme  Court  at  Ottawa  in 
March,  1886. 

His  profession  was  at  once  taken  up,  and  associating  himself 
with  Mr.  E.  S.  Cummings,  they  remained  together  as  partners  for 
four  years.  Since  that  time  Mr.  Murphy  has  been  in  business 
alone,  and  to-day  it  is  doubtful  if  there  is  a  lawyer  in  Chicago  who 
possesses  a  greater  number  of  clients  or  is  doing  a  larger  amount  of 
business.  His  success,  though  rapid,  has  been  gradual,  and  the 
legal  mind,  the  persuasive  manner,  the  sagacity,  good  humor  and 
ready  wit,  have  all  united  together  to  place  him  in  his  present  posi- 
tion. 

Mr.  Murphy  was  married  April  llth,  1893,  in  Chicago,  to  Mary 
V.  Halpin,  the  daughter  of  one  of  Chicago's  best  known  citizens. 
A  man  of  intensely  social  nature,  the  chief  delight  of  Frank  Murphy 
— as  he  is  generally  known — is  to  be  surrounded  with  his  friends 
and  to  dispense  the  historical  Irish  hospitality.  For  fast  horses  he 
admits  a  decided  partiality,  and  is  fortunate  in  the  possession  of 
several  that  can  show  a  good  pace. 


760  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

The  only  social  organization  of  which  he  is  a  member  is  the 
Sheridan  Club,  but  he  was  formerly  also  in  the  Columbus  Club. 
He  belongs  to  a  number  of  fraternal  societies,  among  which  may  be 
mentioned  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Catholic  Benevolent  Legion. 

In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Roman  Catholic,  and  in  politics,  while 
a  few  years  ago  imbued  with  some  Democratic  ideas,  he  is  now  an 
unswerving  Republican.  A  charming  conversationalist,  he  pos- 
sesses a  wealth  of  good  humor  and  is  able  to  draw  on  a  rich  fund  of 
interesting  knowledge.  He  has  traveled  extensively  in  Europe 
and  Canada  and  is  also  very  thoroughly  conversant  with  all  parts 
of  the  United  States. 


JOHN   R.   WALSH. 


This  truly  representative  Chicagoan,  eminent  financier  and  lead- 
ing citizen,  was  born  in  Ireland,  August  22d,  1837.  When  his  pa- 
rents left  the  old  land  for  the  United  States  and  settled  in  Chicago 
he  was  but  twelve  years  old,  and  it  was  in  this  city  that  the  boy  was 
moulded  into  a  man  and  that  hisi  intellect  and  talents  became 
trained  and  ripened  into  such  development  as  have  procured  for 
him  the  high  position  he  holds  in  the  business  and  social  world  of 
to-day. 

John  R.  Walsh  was  eighteen  when  he  obtained  his  first  position 
as  clerk  and  salesman  for  J.  McNally,  at  that  time  one  of  the  chief 
newsdealers  in  the  city.  A  very  bright  boy  and  uniformly  cour- 
teous, he  soon  became  immensely  popular  with  the  store  patrons, 
and  taking  a  keen  interest  in  the  business,  he  readily  perceived  the 
possibilities  of  its  expansion.  His  employer,  however,  was  of  too 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  761 

conservative  a  bent  of  mind  to  indulge  in  new  ideas,  and  in  1861 
Mr.  Walsh,  having  borrowed  a  little  capital,  opened  up  a  news  de- 
pot of  his  own  and  at  once  proceeded  to  carry  his  ideas  into  action. 
He  was  not  satisfied  with  supplying  locaJ  customers  with  papers 
and  periodicals,  but  set  out  also  to  provide  for  the  outside  towns 
and  cities  throughout  this  state,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota  and  Iowa. 
He  came  into  immediate  competition  witli  the  American  News 
Company  of  New  York,  and  his  facilities  for  business  being  super- 
ior, he  was  soon  able  to  obtain  control  of  a  large  proportion  of  the 
Northwestern  trade.  The  encroachments  on  their  business  forced 
a  crisis  and  the  American  News  Company  opened  up  negotiations 
which,  in  1866,  resulted  in  the  establishment  of  the  Western  News 
Company  in  Chicago,  and  of  this  John  R.  Walsh  became  manager. 
It  was  the  first  branch  opened  up  by  the  American  News  Company, 
but  now  that  organization  has  offices  in  all  the  principal  cities  of  the 
country. 

As  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Chicago  National  Bank,  the  third 
largest  banking  establishment  in  this  city;  and  of  which,  since  its 
establishment.  Mi'.  Walsh  has  been  president,  he  has  attained  a 
still  higher  recognition  in  the  community  and  in  the  circles  of 
finance  and  general  business  no*  man  possesses  higher  considera- 
tion. 

While  actively  concerned  in  a  number  of  other  important  en- 
terprises, Mr.  Walsh  has  of  late  years  taJten  a  peculiar  interest  in 
the  newspapers  of  Chicago.  For  a  considerable  period  he  con- 
trolled the  "Inter  Ocean,"  and  when  his  interest  was  bought  out, 
he  became  principal  owner  of  the  "Chicago  Herald"  and  the  "Even- 
ing Post."  The  two  latter  being  purchased  by  Mr.  H.  II.  Kohlsaat, 
Mr.  Walsh  shortly  afterwards  took  an  interest  in  the  newly  started 
"Chicago  Chronicle,"  and  has  at  the  same  time  a  large  interest  in 
the  "Staats  Zeitung." 

Mr.  Walsh  was  married  in  1867  to  Miss  Wilson,  a  Chicago  lady 
41 


762  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE 

of  many  accomplishments  and  much  social  distinction,  who  takes 
a  leading  part  in  all  charitable  enterprises. 

Like  most  men  of  strong  character,  he  has  been  at  all  times 
somewhat  retiring  in  his  disposition,  but  as  a  man  of  unimpeach- 
able integrity  he  has  commanded  the  respect  and  entire  esteem  of 
every  one  with  whom  either  business  or  social  duties  or  circum- 
stances have  brought  him  into  contact.  He  is  a  worthy  citizen, 
an  honorable  gentleman  and  a  pride  at  once  to  the  land  of  his  birth 
and  to  the  city  he  has  for  so  many  years  made  his  home. 


MAURICE  M.  O'CONNOR. 


A  genial  Irishman,  kindly  natural  and  generous  to  a  fault,  ever 
ready  to  do  a  service  or  to  help  a  friend,  a  man  of  exceptional  abil- 
ity and  great  and  sustained  persistence,  is  the  subject  of  the  pres- 
ent sketch,  the  popular  Harrison  appointee  to  the  office  of  gas  in- 
spector of  the  City  of  Chicago,  that  manly  and  handsome  represent- 
ative American  Irishman,  Maurice  M.  O'Connor. 

A  born  rebel,  if  it  can  be  called  rebellion  to  fight  oppression, 
tyranny  and  cruel  wrong,  he  was  born  February  22d,  1848,  a  year 
whose  very  atmosphere  must  have  been  tinged  with  patriotic  fire. 
Breathing  such  air,  nurtured  on  hate  of  English  rule,  the  boy  grew 
and  thrived,  and  his  devotion  to  his  birthland  has  never  wavered, 
but  has  been  nobly  evinced  on  innumerable  occasions.  His  early 
education  was  received  in  Ireland's  national  schools,  and  to  the 
thorough*  grounding  received,  Maurice  O'Connor  bears  good  evi- 
dence. When  thirteen  he  came  to  this  country  for  a  few  weeks, 
then  returning  to  Ireland  with  his  uncle,  resuming  his  studies  at 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  763 

the  famous  Listowel  grammar  school,  where  he  completed  the  regu- 
lar course. 

Ail  active  part  had  been  taken  by  him  from  his  very  boyhood  in 
Irish  national  affairs,  and  having  been  connected  with  the  rising 
in  March,  1807,  he  found  it  policy  to  leave  the  country  once  more 
and  to  seek  elsewhere  a  permanent  home.  He  accompanied  Gen- 
eral O'Neil's  ill-starred  expedition  into  Canada,  and  afterwards,  lo- 
cating in  Chicago  and  thrown  entirely  on  his  own  resources,  de- 
termined to  make  his  way  in  the  world.  His  first  work  was  as  a 
laborer  on  the  streets,  and  later  he  carried  a  hod.  His  habits  were 
good,  his  disposition  was  economical  and  the  money  he  was  able 
to  save  was  invested  in  profitable  real  estate.  Later,  too,  he  was 
able  to  secure  an  interest  in  the  wholesale  liquor  establishment  of 
Charles  Denuehy  &  Co.,  and  this,  with  other  good  investments,  has 
placed  him,  while  in  the  prime  of  life,  in  the  possession  of  a  very 
comfortable  fortune. 

Broad-minded  and  liberal,  Mr.  O'Connor  is  a  typical  American 
citizen.  He  has  known  what  physical  labor  and  hard  work  mean 
and  his  sympathies  have  been  ever  strong  with  the  weak  and  the 
oppressed.  Elected  to  the  City  Council,  such  ideas  of  his  found  fre- 
quent outcome.  He  has  striven  hard  to  make  the  pay  for  labor 
#2.25  a  day,  and  has  persistently  advocated  a  national  law  making 
the  minimum  daily  pay  of  laborers  f  2.  During  the  Pullman  strike 
his  feelings  were  freely  expressed,  and  he  did  more,  perhaps,  than 
any  one  other  Individual  towards  helping  the  unfortunate  victims. 
Towards  the  police  and  fire  departments  also  he  has  shown  himself 
a  warm  friend,  and  to  him  the  responsibility  is  due  for  the  endeavor 
to  equalize  the  salaries  of  policemen  at  f  1,200  a  year. 

Indeed,  in  a  variety  of  ways  the  good  nature  and  generous  feel- 
ing of  this  liberal-minded  Irishman  and  very  worthy  citizen  have 
been  shown,  and  there  are  many  young  men  and  women  in  this 
city  who  owe  their  start  in  life  to  his  kindly  help.  He  also  was  the 


764  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 

introducer  into  the  Oity  Council  of  a  set  of  resolutions  expressing 
sympathy  with  the  Cubans  in  their  patriotic  endeavors,  and  which 
stimulated  later  both  houses  of  Congress  to  follow  a  similar  course. 

A  man  of  his  parts  would  find  it  a  difficult  matter  to  avoid  the 
sea  of  politics,  and  Maurice  O'Connor  has  been  prominent  for  many 
years  past.  As  a  strong  Democrat,  in  the  last  campaign  he  was  a 
pronounced  Bryanite,  and  was  one  of  the  tatter's  electors  from  the 
Fifth  Congressional  District,  in  which  he  ran  very  far  ahead  of  his 
ticket. 

Mr.  O'Connor,  in  addition  to  keeping  himself  thoroughly  posted 
on  all  current  affairs,  is  a  great  reader,  and  has  a  good  and  care- 
fully chosen  library.  He  has  traveled  considerably,  has  made  three 
trips  across  the  Atlantic,  during  which  he  visited  the  chief  Euro- 
pean centers,  and  in  regard  to  Ireland  there  is  not  a  single  county 
with  which  he  is  not  fully  acquainted.  Letters  of  his  giving  full 
details  of  his  wanderings,  and  in  a  breezy,  happy  way,  were  pub- 
lished and  met  with  very  considerable  favor.  A  family  man,  his 
pleasant  home  rejoices  in  the  presence  of  n  datighter,  a  bright  and 
very  interesting  young  lady,  who  is  yet  in  her  teens. 


M.   B.  BAILEY. 


Few  men  responsibly  identified  with  the  public  service,  Munic- 
ipal, State  and  Federal,  have  suggested  and  carried  through  to  suc- 
cessful operation  equally  useful  measures  to  those  for  which  Chi- 
cago is  indebted  to  Michael  B.  Bailey.  Among  the  old  citizens  of 
Chicago  he  occupies  a  prominent  place  since  he  arrived  in  the  city 
in  1850,  and  he  has  been  well  and  actively  known  in  all  its  affairs 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  765 

of  a  popular  character  for  many  years  past.  His  prompt  and  use- 
ful services  during  the  distressing  times  of  the  great  fire  of  1871, 
when  he  was  a  member  of  the  City  Council,  have  passed  into  the 
history  of  that  period,  and  his  course  in  the  council,  his  work  in  or- 
ganizing citizens'  relief  and  patrol  work  at  that  time,  to  say  noth- 
ing of  his  subsequent  identification  with  wise  and  valuable  legisla- 
tion, have  served  to  make  the  name  of  M.  B.  Bailey  one  of  those 
which  occupy  no  insignificant  place  in  the  record  of  Chicago  his- 
tory. The  story  of  what  has  been  called  his  "brown  paper"  ordi- 
nance would  alone  make  a  man  notable  in  local  annals.  When  the 
first  meeting  of  the  City  Council  was  called  during  the  great  fire 
emergency,  even  before  the  fire  was  under  complete  subjection,  it 
was  held  in  the  basement  or  school-room  of  the  First  Congrega- 
tional Church  (Dr.  Goodwin's),  corner  of  Ann  and  Washington 
Boulevard,  in  the  west  division,  the  only  section  of  the  city  in  which, 
at  that  time,  any  business  could  be  transacted.  The  council  had 
learned  that  some  grocery  dealers  were  taking  advantage  of  the 
distress  of  the  people  and  were  extorting  the  price  of  $1.50  for  a  loaf 
of  bread.  There  was  no  writing  paper  in  the  possession  of  any 
alderman  at  the  meeting,  so  some  brown  paper  or  grocery  wrap- 
ping had  to  serve  instead,  and  it  was  Alderman  Bailey  who  drew 
up  an  ordinance,  which  was  promptly  passed,  to  the  effect  that  any 
person  charging  more  than  ten  cents  for  each  loaf  of  bread  should 
be  punished  with  a  fine  of  $10  and  ten  days  imprisonment  for  each 
offense. 

M.  B.  Bailey  was  born  in  Limerick,  April  8th,  1840.  His  father, 
who  was  quite  prominent  in  the  blacksmithing  business  in  his  na- 
tive city,  died  when  our  subject  was  but  six  years  old.  At  the  early 
age  of  ten  years,  unaccompanied  save  for  the  companionship  of  an 
old  lady  who  was  coming  to  America,  young  Bailey  ventured  upon 
the  journey  to  the  United  States,  sailing  from  Liverpool  to  New 
York  in  a  vessel  called  the  "Orient,"  which  took  seven  weeks  and 


766  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP   THE 

three  days  to  reach  the  promised  land.  He  met  relatives  in  Buf- 
falo, and  came  on  from  Buffalo  to  Chicago  by  schooner,  where  he 
was  met  by  other  relatives  and  friends,  among  whom  were  some 
citizens  well  remembered  here,  such  as  Thomas  Cummings  and 
Capt  Patrick  Gleason.  He  was  first  employed  in  Chicago  by  J. 
H.  Ward,  builder  and  contractor,  with  whom  he  remained  for  four 
years.  He  had  received  a  primary  school  education  in  Ireland, 
which  he  perfected  at  night  schools  in  Chicago,  and  with  much 
adaptability  and  energy  entered  upon  the  masonry  and  building 
business  on  his  own  account.  Enlarging  his  business  as  a  con- 
tractor, Mr.  Bailey  put  up  quite  a  number  of  buildings,  large  for 
that  time,  prominent  among  which  may  be  named  the  Empire  Block 
on  La  Salle  Street,  the  McCormick  Block  on  Lake  Street,  the  Thur- 
man  building,  and  also  a  large  number  of  residences  and  business 
blocks  throughout  the  city.  In  1857  he  went  to  Keokuk,  Iowa,  to 
repair  the  Court  House  at  that  place,  after  which  he  went  to  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri,  where  he  erected  many  large  and  imposing  resi- 
dences and  business  structures.  He  afterwards  went  to  Pike's 
Peak,  and  subsequently,  in  1859,  went  South,  working  for  some  time 
as  a  mechanic  on  a  large  Bed  River  plantation.  At  the  outbreak  of 
the  war  he  moved  to  Memphis,  Tenn.,  where  with  other  loyal  citi- 
zens he  was  compelled  to  assist  in  the  transportation  of  Gen.  Price's 
troops  to  the  field  of  Shiloh.  After  the  capitulation  of  Memphis 
in  1862,  he  returned  to  Chicago,  resuming  his  business  as  a  builder. 
This  he  successfully  carried  on,  putting  up  a  number  of  business 
and  residence  buildings  more  or  less  well  known,  and  the  time  of 
the  great  fire  found  him  a  busy  and  prosperous  man.  The  ruins 
of  the  great  conflagration  were  scarcely  cleared  away  before  Mr. 
Bailey  found  himself  fully  engaged  in  the  work  of  reconstruction, 
and  one  of  the  first  buildings  of  importance  he  erected  was  the  old 
jail  and  criminal  court  block,  finished  in  1872. 

Very  early  in  life  Mr.  Bailey  embraced  the  Democratic  faith  in 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  767 

politics,  and  IK-  has  ever  since  been  an  ardent  and  active  member  of 
the  Democratic  party.  In  1869,  notwithstanding  the  fact  of  his 
being  a  Democrat,  he  was  unanimously  endorsed  by  the  Repub- 
licans of  the  Eighth  Ward  for  Alderman,  and  in  1872  was  re-elected 
on  the  Greeley  ticket. 

During  the  administration  of  Jos.  Medill  as  Mayor,  there  was 
practically  no  sewerage  in  the  southwestern  portion  of  the  city,  and 
it  was  due  to  the  strenuous  efforts  and  exertion  of  Alderman  Bailey 
that  Mayor  Medill  secured  an  appropriation  of  $90,000  for  the  pur- 
pose. In  company  with  the  Mayor,  he  went  through  the  whole  dis- 
trict, and  viewing  the  situation,  agitated  the  matter  and  got  the 
appropriation  through.  It  was  also  through  the  sole  and  individ- 
ual efforts  of  Mr.  Bailey  that  the  Canal  Street  viaduct  was  built, 
and  the  railroad  interested  compelled  to  build  the  super-structure. 
He  secured  the  building  of  the  great  Halsted  Street  viaduct  also, 
and  upon  the  same  conditions. 

When  Alderman  Bailey  was  in  the  city  council  he  originated 
and  secured  the  passage  of  several  of  the  most  important  ordi- 
nances within  the  code  of  laws  and  ordinances  of  the  City  of  Chi- 
cago. These  comprehend  the  ordinance  for  the  extension  of  the  fire 
limits  and  which  made  them  co-existent  with  the  limits  of  the  city, 
and  this  was  afterwards  followed  by  the  passage  of  the  ordinance 
termed  the  building  law,  a  measure  agitated  for  some  two  years, 
and  which  at  the  time  aroused  considerable  opposition,  but  finally 
passed.  In  the  creation  and  passage  of  this  ordinance  Alderman 
Bailey  was  materially  assisted  by  the  Hon.  Murray  F.  Tuley,  cor- 
poration counsel  at  the  time;  the  Hon.  Egbert  Jamieson,  city  at- 
torney, and  the  late  Alderman  John  M.  Van  Osdell,  the  well  known 
architect.  On  retirement  from  the  city  council  Alderman  Bailey 
was  made  the  first  superintendent  of  buildings  for  Chicago,  a  posi- 
tion which  he  held  until  he  resigned  at  the  time  of  the  election  of 
Mayor  Heath.  The  dog  license  law,  admitted  to  be  a  measure  of 


768  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

great  safety  to  citizens  and  a  source  of  large  revenue  to  the  city, 
was  also  originated  and  passed  through  the  efforts  of  Alderman 
Bailey. 

During  all  his  residence  in  Chicago  Mr.  Bailey  has  taken  an 
active  and  earnest  interest  in  public  affairs,  and  in  matters  political 
his  judgment  has  been  eagerly  sought  for  and  valued.  He  was 
very  active  in  the  Tilden  campaign  of  1872,  is  a  charter  member  of 
the  Cook  County  Democracy,  and  was  a  member  of  the  State  Cen- 
tral Committee  up  to  1878.  He  was  appointed  by  President  Cleve- 
land, in  1885,  Superintendent  of  Construction  of  the  Government 
buildings  at  Chicago,  including  the  Custom  House  and  Postofflce 
buildings,  Appraisers'  and  Barge  offices  and  the  Marine  Hospital, 
a  responsible  position  which  he  so  honorably  discharged  that  he 
was  promptly  reappoiuted  by  President  Cleveland  in  1893. 

In  1858  Mr.  Bailey  married  Miss  Ellen  Dignan,  of  Keokuk, 
Iowa.  They  have  had  ten  children  in  all,  five  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters. Seven  of  these  survive,  namely:  Harry  L.  and  George  J. 
Bailey,  Mary  E.  Bailey  (married  to  Mr.  Thomas  E.  Morau),  Cathar- 
ine (married  to  Mr.  John  Kelly,  of  Kelly  Brothers),  Tillie,  Ellen  and 
Margaret.  Mr.  Bailey  is,  and  always  has  been,  extremely  popular 
in  social  as  well  as  civic  life.  In  addition  to  his  political  connec- 
tions, he  is  an  old  member  of  the  Emmet  Guards,  was  a  member  of 
the  Irish-American  Club,  is  a  charter  member  of  the  Catholic  Order 
of  Foresters,  a  member  of  the  Royal  League,  the  Koyal  Arcanum 
and  the  Columbus  dub. 

Inreligionhe  isaCatholic  and  a  prominent  member  of  the  Parish 
of  the  Holy  Family,  with  which  he  has  been  identified  since  its 
organization  years  ago.  Something  of  an  idea  of  his  popularity 
in  the  section  of  the  city  of  which  he  has  been  a  life-long  resident 
and  of  his  social  estimation  as  a  Catholic  Irishman  of  Chicago  may 
be  gathered  from  the  fact  that  some  years  ago  when  a  friendly  con- 
test  for  a  gold-mounted  walking  cane  was  held  in  aid  of  the  build 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  769 

iiig  fund  of  the  Church  of  the  Sacred  Heart — a  branch  church  of 
Holy  Family  parish — M.  B.  Bailey  triumphantly  earned  off  the 
pretty  trophy  and  the  extraordinary  sum  of  fifteen  thousand  dol- 
lars was  netted  for  the  church  through  the  event. 

Mr.  Bailey  is  uow  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  is  certainly  one  of 
the  best  posted  men  politically  in  the  city,  as  he  is  one  of  the  most 
popular  citizens  of  our  general  community. 


WILLIAM   DILLON. 

This  able  lawyer,  prominent  newspaper  man  and  well  known 
Chicago  American  Irishman  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
July  10th,  1850.  His  parents  were  John  B.  and  Adelaide  Dillon,  of 
whom  the  first  named  was  in  1848  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Young 
Ireland  party,  "who  ran  the  outlaw's  brief  career  and  bore  his  load 
of  ill."  In  consequence  he  was  exiled  and  from  1848  to  1856  lived 
in  New  York  City.  A  member  of  both  the  Irish  and  the  American 
bars,  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  Member  of  Parliament  for 
County  Tipperary.  The  Dillons  have  always  been  good  fighting 
stock  and  Cremona  and  Pontenoy  as  well  as  numerous  instances  in 
Ireland  attest  in  the  strongest  terms  to  their  courage  and  their, 
patriotism. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a  very  thorough  education 
in  Ireland,  his  studies  being  completed  at  the  Catholic  University, 
Dublin.  He  was  called  to  the  Irish  bar  in  1874  and  practiced  in  the 
last  mentioned  city  until  1880,  when  ill  health  forced  him  to  relin- 
quish. Coming  to  the  United  States  in  January,  1880,  he  went  to 
Colorado  the  following  summer  and  lived  there  until  1893,  a  por- 
tion of  the  time  on  a  cattle  ranch  and  the  balance  in  the  practice  of 


770  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OP   THE 

his  profession.  In  June,  1893,  lie  decided  to  make  Chicago  his  per- 
manent home  and  in  March  of  the  year  following  he  became  editor 
of  the  "New  World."  This  Catholic  weekly  paper,  which  has  a  large 
circulation  and  is  the  official  Catholic  organ  of  the  archdiocese, 
owes  its  present  position,  in  a  great  part,  to  the  vigorous  work 
and  pre-eminent  and  generally  recognized  abilities  of  Mr.  Dillon. 

He  was  married  in.  May,  1885,  in  Colorado,  to  Elizabeth  Rat- 
cliff,  a  native  of  that  State,  and  they  have  three  children  living. 

Mr.  Dillon  is  in  his  religious  views  an  active  and  ever  zealous 
Koinan  Catholic,  and  in  his  politics  belongs  to  the  free  silver  sec- 
tion of  the  Democratic  party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
Order  of  Foresters,  the  Royal  League  and  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen. 

The  author  of  several  works,  some  of  which  are  now  standard, 
he  possesses  a  fund  of  information  upon  an  immense  variety  of 
subjects,  and  being  an  extensive  traveler  over  Europe  and  in  this 
country,  is  in  every  way  fitted  to  be  what  he  is,  a  most  delightful 
companion.  A  thorough  Irish  patriot,  a  straight-forward  and  most 
worthy  citizen,  a  good  speaker  and  an  able  lawyer,  Mr.  Dillon  is  at 
once  an  honor  to  the  land  of  his  birth  as  well  as  to  the  country  in 
which  he  has  made  his  home. 


JOHN  J.  SWENIE. 


Among  the  brightest  and  most  promising  lawyers  in  this  city, 
the  subject  of  our  present  sketch  takes  a  foremost  place.  Though 
born  in  Chicago,  on  the  North  Side,  July  26th,  1861,  he  bears  all 
of  the  personal  characteristics  of  the  best  type  of  Irishman,  a  fine 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  771 

physique,  unlimited  humor  and  a  never  failing  wit.  Ills  father, 
John  Sweiiie,  was  like  many  more  of  the  Green  Isle's  most  devoted 
adherents,  born  in  Scotland,  lie  is  still  in  the  employ  of  the  Fire 
Department,  where  he  holds  the  position  of  foreman  of  the  wood 
department.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was  Bridget  King.  Both 
John  Sweuie's  parents  were  full-blooded  Irish.  His  father  bore 
the  same  name  as  himself,  and  his  mother  was  Ellen  MacLeish. 

John  J.  Sweiiie  received  his  earlier  education  in  Chicago  public 
schools,  and  does  eminent  credit  to  the  teaching  given.  He  began 
the  battle  of  life  early,  his  first  employment  being  in  an  upholstery 
store,  in  which  he  remained  for  eighteen  mouths.  He  then  en- 
tered the  retail  department  of  Field,  Leiter  &  Co.,  and  served  three 
years,  until  the  American  District  Telegraph  Co.  began  its  Chicago 
operations.  lie  entered  its  employ  in  the  capacity  of  a  messenger, 
later  rising  to  the  position  of  office  manager  and  operator.  Hav- 
ing managed  to  teach  himself  telegraphy  and  shorthand,  he  re- 
mained with  the  firm  six  years.  Then  for  seven  years  he  held  the 
responsible  position  of  private  secretary  to  Professor  J.  P.  Barrett, 
the  city  electrician,  but  being  a  man  of  energy  and  indomitable  per- 
severance, in  1888  he  also  took  up  the  study  of  law,  and  entered  the 
Chicago  Evening  Law  College,  which  is  part  of  Lake  Forest  Uni- 
versity. Here  he  took  the  post-graduate  course,  and  graduated 
with  high  honors  in  June,  1890,  and,  receiving  the  degree  of  LL.  B., 
was  appointed  assistant  city  prosecutor  during  the  administration 
of  Carter  II.  Harrison.  He  made  so  good  a  record  that  Mayor  Hop- 
kins confirmed  him  in  the  position.  He  had  conduct  of  many  im- 
portant cases,  and  was  particularly  successful  in  the  prosecution  of 
a  number  of  offenders  against  the  law  prohibiting  restaurant  keep- 
ers and  others  from  selling  liquor  without  a  license. 

Upon  retiring  from  that  ollice,  Mr.  Swenie  started  in  business 
for  himself  in  the  United  States  Express  Building,  87-89  Washing- 
ton Street,  and,  as  counsel  for  the  Iletail  Liquor  Dealers,  carried 


772  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE 

the  four-mile  limit  case  to  the  Supreme  Court,  the  charter  of  the 
Northwestern  University  prohibiting  the  sale  of  liquor  within  that 
radius.  The  fight  was  a  bitter  one,  every  inch  of  the  road  being 
closely  contested,  and  though  Mr.  Swenie  was  much  complimented 
upon  his  handling  of  the  case,  he  was  forced  to  put  up  with  a  defeat. 
In  1894,  among  other  important  cases,  he  appeared  for  the  de- 
fendant in  the  famous  Graham  murder  case.  The  charge  was  mur- 
der in  the  first  degree,  and  Graham  was  promised  a  life  sentence 
if  he  would  plead  guilty.  Mr.  Swenie  was  opposed  to  any  compro- 
mise, and,  as  a  result,  managed  to  get  his  client  off  with  fifteen 
years.  II is  contention  was,  that  no  deliberate  murder  had  been 
proved,  and  that  what  had  occurred  was  done  accidentally,  in  the 
heat  of  passion.  In  1895  Mr.  Swenie  was  elected  attorney  of  the 
Chicago  Liquor  Dealers'  Protective  Association,  a  position  which 
had  been  held  for  a  number  of  years  by  the  late  Mr.  John  M.  Mc- 
Keough. 

In  politics  Mr.  Swenie  is  a  Democrat,  and  a  political  career  has 
always  possessed  for  him  a  peculiar  charm.  He  has  very  fre- 
quently been  urged  to  enter  the  arena,  and  was  nominated  to  the 
legislature  in  1894,  but  the  landslide  numbered  him  among  the 
many  other  victims. 

John  J.  Swenie  was  married  June  6th,  1887,  to  Nellie  M.,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Alice  Coyle,  both  of  whom  are  Irish.  They  have 
no  children.  He  is  a  man  of  essentially  sociable  character,  fond 
of  hunting  and  fishing,  an  omnivorous  reader,  and  possesses  a  vast 
fund  of  information  upon  all  subjects.  He  is  a  speaker  of  much 
ability,  fluent  and  fervid,  and  in  social  attainments  is  gifted  far 
above  the  ordinary.  Few  men  throughout  Chicago  are  better 
known.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Colnmbus  Club,  Amerieus 
Club,  the  Lake  Street  Social  Club,  the  Eoyal  League  and  Knights 
of  Pythias. 

While  unquestionably  the  success  he  has  won  is  due  to  his  own 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  773 

eiiergetic  faculties  and  sterling  worth,  he  attributes  it  in  part,  will- 
ingly and  gratefully,  to  the  efforts  made  by  his  many  influential 
friends,  who  were  convinced  of  his  high  intellectual  faculties,  lie 
Ini'l  shown  himself  possessed  of  the  necessary  grit,  and  they  have 
afforded  him  the  opportunity  to  utilize. 


WILLIAM  J.  BULGER. 


Judge  William  J.  Bulger,  who  though  a  comparatively  recent 
acquisition  to  the  legal  fraternity  of  Chicago,  has  gained  for  him- 
self a  position  of  honor  and  prominence  in  that  profession,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Lockport,  New  York,  where  he  was  born  January  27th,  1858. 
His  father,  Patrick  Bulger,  was  a  native  of  County  Kilkenny,  Ire- 
land, and  when  quite  a  child  came  to  New  York  State  with  his 
parents.  The  family  first  settled"  at  Syracuse,  but  shortly  after- 
wards removed  to  Lockport,  where  Patrick  was  brought  up  and 
followed  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith  until  his  death  in  the  early 
seventies.  His  wife,  mother  of  William.  J.,  was  Antoinette  Mur- 
phy, a  native  of  Wexford,  Ireland;  she  died  in  1880. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Lockport  and  after  graduating  from  the  high  schools  of  that 
city  with  the  highest  honors  ever  attained  by  any  student  of  that 
institution  up  to  that  time,  studied  law  under  the  Hon.  Richard 
Crowley,  then  member  of  Congress  for  that  district.  Later  on  he 
became  a  partner  of  his  distinguished  tutor,  forming  the  law  firm 
of  Crowley  &  Bulger,  which  partnership  in  1880  was  dissolved  and 
the  firm  of  Bulger  &  Driess  was  formed  and  continued  in  general 
law  practice  until  the  fall  of  1882,  when  Mr.  Driess  was  elected 


774  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF   THE 

member  of  the  New  York  Legislature  and  Mr.  Bulger  was  chosen 
Surrogate  of  Niagara  County,  New  York  State.  This  position  he 
filled  most  acceptably  for  five  years,  when  he  resigned  and  came  to 
Chicago  (1888),  and  since  that  time  has  carried  on  a  general  law 
practice  in  this  city,  being  now  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bulger  & 
Perry. 

Among  the  most  important  cases  with  which  Mr.  Bulger  has 
been  connected  may  be  mentioned  the  famous  Stiles  divorce  suit, 
and  the  case  of  the  Holly  Mfg.  Co.  and  City  of  Chicago,  and  it 
should  also  be  mentioned  that  for  two  years  he  was  connected  with 
the  law  department  of  the  city.  Judge  Bulger  is  a  member  of  the 
Sheridan  and  Iroquois  Clubs,  Roman  Catholic  in  religion,  and  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations, 

Mr.  Bulger  was  married  August  17th,  1887,  to  Miss  Alice  Shea 
of  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin.  They  have  three  children,  two  boys  and 
a  girl. 

Thoroughly  home  loving  and  domestic  in  his  tastes,  and  with 
little  liking  for  club  life,  Judge  Bulger  has  never  aspired  to  political 
office.  He  is  a  man  of  forcible  and  energetic  character,  though  at 
the  same  time  of  amiable  and  courteous  disposition  and  manners. 


PETER  J.   HENNESSY. 


The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  has  for  years  been 
a  leading  figure  in  Irish-American  circles,  and  it  is  not  too  much  to 
say  that  he  has  always  enjoyed  a  large  degree  of  popularity  in  Chi- 
cago life  generally.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Grange,  in  Kil- 
kenny County,  Ireland,  in  June,  1846.  In  1857  his  parents  came 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  776 

to  the  United  States,  and  settled  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  lived 
until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  and  attended  parochial  school. 
In  1864  he  removed  to  Chicago,  and  there  pursued  a  course  of  study 
in  Rryant  &  Stratton's  Commercial  College,  after  which  he  took  a 
I>osition  as  a  clerk  in  the  wholesale  millinery  and  notions  estab- 
lishment of  Messrs.  Walsh  &  Hutchinson,  where  he  remained  until 
they  closed  out  their  business  in  1878.  He  next  organized  the  Chi- 
cago Distilling  Company,  which  was  incorporated  under  the  laws 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  in  February,  1879,  with  himself  as  treas- 
urer; with  which  corporation  he  is  yet  connected.  In  1887  Col. 
Ilennessy  was  one  of  the  original  promoters  and  organizers  of  the 
great  Distilling  and  Cattle-Feeding  Company,  of  which  he  was  a 
director  and  secretary,  which  positions  he  held  till  May  1st,  1895. 
In  June,  1891,  the  Distilling  and  Cattle-Feeding  Company  bought 
the  entire  distilling  interest  of  Henry  H.  Shufeldt  &  Co.,  and  Mr. 
Hennessy  was  then  made  manager  of  the  entire  business.  The 
Distilling  and  Cattle-Feeding  Company  had  a  capital  stock  of  f35,- 
000,000,  and  controlled  eighty-three  different  distilleries  in  this 
country.  Holding  such  an  important  position  in  a  company  repre- 
senting such  vast  interests,  speaks  louder  than  any  words  of  praise 
can  of  Mr.  Hennessy's  executive  and  business  ability.  His  busi- 
ness methods  have  always  been  in  keeping  with  the  highest  prin- 
ciples of  honorable  and  fair  dealing,  and  with  conscientious  regard 
for  the  rights  of  others.  He  has  a  clear  and  comprehensive  mind ; 
is  quick  to  see  where  an  advantageous  move  may  be  made,  and  is 
able,  not  only  to  perceive  great  projects,  but  also  to  execute  his 
well-directed  plans.  While  yet  in  the  very  prime  of  vigorous  man- 
hood, he  has  attained  to  a  place  as  a  successful  business  manager 
which  might  satisfy  any  man's  ambition,  and  which  comparatively 
few  reach  in  a  lifetime. 

Although  Mr.  Hennessy  has  been  closely  identified  with  largo 
business  enterprises  for  many  years,  his  time  and  attention  have 


776  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 

not  been  wholly  given  to  them.  He  has  rare  social  qualities,  de- 
lights in  good-fellowship,  and  lacks  in  none  of  those  personal  traits 
that  characterize  the  warm-hearted,  genial  and  high-minded  gen- 
tleman. He  is  a  member  of  the  Sheridan  Club;  he  was  seven  years 
a  member  of  the  Second  Regiment  of  the  Illinois  National  Guards, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  resignation,  in  1882,  he  was  lieutenant-col- 
onel in  that  organization.  In  religious  faith  he  is  a  Catholic,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Cathedral  of  the  Holy  Name.  In  politics  he  has 
always  been  identified  with  the  Democratic  party.  His  mind  is 
well  stored  with  practical  information,  gained  from  extensive 
travel. 

In  stature  Mr.  Hennessy  is  of  medium  height;  he  has  a  well- 
developed  physique,  a  vigorous  constitution  and  a  dignified  bear- 
ing, which,  with  his  uniform  affability  and  courtly  manners,  at- 
tracts to  him  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 

On  July  12th,  1883,  he  married  Miss  Hannah  M.  McCarthy,  a 
daughter  of  the  late  Mr.  Owen  McCarthy,  one  of  Chicago's  most  re- 
spected and  oldest  citizens.  Two  children — Adele,  twelve  years 
old,  and  Edwin,  aged  five  years — blessed  this  union.  A  reference 
to  the  home  circle  of  Col.  Hennessy  would  be  incomplete  without  at 
least  briefly  touching  upon  the  rare  musical  accomplishments  of 
his  charming  wife.  As  Miss  Hannah  McCarthy,  she  was  known 
not  only  in  Chicago,  but  in  the  musical  world  of  the  eastern  cities 
as  one  of  the  leading  soprano  singers  of  the  country.  An  admira- 
ble cultivation  bestowed  upon  a  voice  signally  noble  in  both  mu- 
sical quality  and  capacity,  resulted  in  placing  her  in  the  very  front, 
rank  of  American  singers,  and  in  concert  and  oratorio,  in  the  latter 
difficult  field  especially,  she  achieved  an  enviable  place  as  an  ex- 
ceptionally gifted  lyric  artist  Notwithstanding  the  flattering  of- 
fers to  adopt  concert  work  as  a  life  career,  and  opportunities  ten- 
dered her  to  appear  as  the  soprano  soloist  in  the  great  musical 
festivals,  especially  under  the  auspices  of  the  Boston  societies,  Miss 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  777 

Hannah  McCarthy  preferred  the  less  arduous  sphere  of  church  and 
concert  work  in  Chicago,  among  her  relatives  and  friends,  and  ulti- 
mately the  tranquil  happiness  of  home  life,  a  fact  upon  which  Col. 
ITennessy  is  undoubtedly  to  be  congratulated. 


BERNARD  B.  MAGINN. 


This  well-known  Chicago  engineer,  senior  member  of  the  Ma- 
ginu  &  Bradley  Company,  was  born  in  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  in  1853. 
His  parents,  Peter  and  Katherine  (Doyle)  Maginn,  were  both  of 
Irish  birth.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Armagh,  and  his  mother 
was  born  in  County  Clare.  Peter  Magiun  caine  to  the  United  States 
about  1840,  and  was  married  a  few  years  later. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  public  and  high  schools 
of  northern  New  York,  and  graduated  from  the  latter  in  1870. 
Having  thoroughly  learned  the  machinist's  trade,  he  became  su- 
perintendent for  a  well-known  New  York  concern,  and  traveled  ex- 
tensively in  the  west,  superintending  the  erection  of  power  plants 
in  that  part  of  the  country,  and  finally  settled  in  Chicago  in  1889. 
Among  other  work,  as  consulting  engineer,  carried  out  by  Mr.  Ma- 
ginn, may  be  mentioned  the  Masonic  Temple,  the  Chicago  Athletic 
Association  Building,  the  (Criminal  Court  Building,  and  a  great 
many  others. 

Mr.  Maginn  was  married  in  1875  to  Elizabeth  Hunt,  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  they  have  a  family  of  four  children. 

A  Roman  Catholic;  in  his  religious  views  and  a  Democrat  in  his 
politics,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Columbus  Club,  and  belongs  to  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters  and  the  C.  B.  of  L. 

42 


778  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE 

Over  the  United  States  Mr.  Maginn  has  traveled  extensively 
and  is  a  man  of  much  general  knowledge  and  interesting  informa- 
tion on  a  large  variety  of  subjects.  Pleasant  and  courteous,  suc- 
cessful and  generous,  he  is  a  fitting  type  of  his  race. 


REV.  JAMES   M.   HAGAN. 


Eev.  James  Monroe  Hagan  was  born  at  Indian  Greek,  Monroe 
County,  Mo.,  on  November  12th,  1853.  His  father,  Joseph  B. 
Hagan,  a  farmer  and  a  lawyer,  was  elected  judge  of  the  County 
court  of  Monroe  County,  and  died  in  1876.  His  mother,  Mary 
(Beall)  1  lagan,  died  in  1870.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  prob- 
ably the  youngest  grandson  of  a  revolutionary  grandfather  in  Cook 
County.  The  latter,  who  was  a  descendant  of  the  Maryland  colony, 
as  a  mere  boy  fought,  at  Bunker  Hill,  of  course  on  the  American 
side,  also  at  the  battle  of  Trenton,  and  was  severely  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Cowpens.  Father  Hagan  was  educated  at  the  Louisville 
High  School  by  his  brother  Frank,  city  attorney  of  Louisville, 
This  school  he  left  in  18(58,  going  to  St.  Joseph's  College,  Bards- 
town,  Ky.,  one  year;  he  taught  two  years  at  St,  Viateur's  College, 
Bourbonnains  Grove,  111.,  thence  going  to  the  Jesuit  College  at 
Georgetown,  D.  C.  In  the  last  named  he  was  the  first  winner  of 
the  congressional  debating  medal,  founded  by  Hon.  Richard  T. 
Merrick.  From  1876  to  1881  he  attended  the  University  of  Inn- 
spmckjin  Tyrol,  founded  in  1672,  and  the  only  university  on  the  con- 
tinent now  controlled  by  the  Jesuits.  Ordained  a  priest  on  July 
4th,  1880,  by  Bishop  Leiss  of  Brixen,  he  finished  his  studies  in  Rome, 
and  returned  to  the  United  States  in  1881,  reaching  New  York  on 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  779 

July  4th.  His  first  appointment  was  as  assistant  pastor  of  St. 
Stephen's  Church.  He  is  now  pastor  of  St.  Francis  Xavier's 
Church,  La  Grange,  111.,  and  the  parish  which,  when  he  took 
charge,  was  a  very  insignificant  one,  has  under  his  able  care 
and  untiring  labor  grown  and  prospered.  The  church  he  built 
would  be  a  source  of  pride  to  any  congregation,  and  the  musical 
services  there  have  a  reputation  throughout  the  archdiocese. 

Father  Hagan  has  gained  a  national  reputation  as  a  temperance 
worker  and  orator.  He  was  elected  President  of  the  Chicago  Cath- 
olic Total  Abstinence  Union,  in  1883,  which  position  he  has  held 
ever  since,  and  lie  was  also  for  one  term  Vice  President  of  the 
Catholic  Total  Abstinence  Union  of  America.  He  speaks  German 
and  French  fluently,  being,  indeed,  not  unfrequently  taken  for  a 
German.  Those  who  best  know  him  and  are  most  familiar  with  his 
work,  say  that  the  three  points  in  his  character  which  stand  out  in 
the  boldest  relief  are,  his  popularity  with  the  people,  especially 
with  the  non-Catholic  portion;  his  power  as  an  orator,  and  his  suc- 
cess as.  a  temperance  worker.  Always  a  consistent  Democrat,  he 
was  in  the  last  presidential  campaign  a  powerful  advocate  for  free 
silver. 


WILLIAM  J.  ONAHAN. 


William  J.  Onahan  has  been  for  over  thirty  years  very  promi- 
nently identified  with  Catholic  movements  in  this  country.  In 
events  connected  with  the  establishment  of  societies,  the  organiza- 
tion of  congresses,  the  founding  of  schools,  colleges  and  churches, 
the  erection  and  unveiling  of  statues,  his  name  is  ever  "familiar  as 
a  household  word."  High  executive  ability,  backed  by  a  strong 


780  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE 

spirit  of  practical  religion,  have  made  him  a  powerful  factor  in  the 
various  worthy  undertakings  to  which  he  has  given  his  support 
and  won  him  the  distinction  of  being  termed  the  Premier  Catholic 
Layman  of  America. 

He  was  born  at  Leighlin  Bridge,  County  Carlow,  Ireland, 
whence,  in  1845,  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Liverpool.  Here 
he  attended  school  and  acted  as  acolyte,  often  serving  Mass  in  St. 
Nicholas'  Pro-Cathedral,  Copperas-hill,  for  the  distinguished  Mon 
signor  (then  Father)  Nugent,  with  whom  for  over  a  quarter  of  a 
century  he  has  been  on  terms  of  the  closest  friendship. 

At  an  early  age  (in  1852),  laden  with  abundance  of  native  en- 
ergy, ability  and  perseverance,  he  came  to  America,  landing  in  New 
York,  where  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  In  1854  he  came 
to  Chicago.  On  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  he  threw  himself 
with  enthusiasm  into  the  Northern  cause,  draining  his  purse  of  its 
last  dollar  and  embarrassing  himself  financially  for  years  in  help- 
ing to  raise  a  regiment  for  the  defense  of  the  Union.  Retaining  a 
strong  affection  for  his  native  land,  he  succeeded,  in  1865,  in  organ- 
izing the  St.  Patrick's  Society,  composed  of  the  leading  Irishmen 
of  Chicago;  thenceforth,  till  1880,  this  society  made  brilliant  an- 
nual celebration,  witli  song  and  speech,  of  the  feast  of  Ireland's 

p 

apostle,  the  successful  founder  being  distinguished  among  the  ora- 
tors. On  the  lecture  platform,  also,  Mr.  Onahan  has  acquired  fame. 
His  discourses  are  able  and  scholarly  in  tone,  their  diction  elegant 
though  forcible,  his  arguments,  especially  as  a  lay  champion  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  trenchant  as  the  sword  of  Sir  Galahad.  The 
variety  of  his  lectures  (which,  many  will  be  glad  to  learn,  will  soon 
be  collectively  published  in  book  form)  may  be  judged  from  some 
of  the  titles— "The  Eights  of  Labor,"  "Frederick  Ozanam,"  "Gen- 
erals Mulligan  and  Shields,"  "John  Mitchel,"  "Ireland  it  Mikla" 
(Great  Ireland),  "Irish  Settlements  in  Illinois,"  "Our  Faith  and  Our 
Flag."  As  a  scholar  Mr.  Onahan  has  had  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  781 

l.)i\vs  conferred  upon  him  from  Notre  Dame  University,  and  has 
received  other  academic-  honors  from  St.  John's  College,  New  York; 
St.  Xavier's  College,  Cincinnati,  and  other  educational  centers. 

The  scope  of  St.  Patrick's  Society  was  not  confined  to  merely 
celebrating  Erin's  festal  day.  The  members  did  some  sound  prac- 
tical work.  When  famine  smote  misgoverned  Ireland  they  went 
down  deep  in  their  pockets,  and  their  generous  donations  brought 
relief  to  many  an  Irish  cabin.  At  Mr.  Onahan's  instance  they 
started  the  League  of  St.  Patrick  for  the  protection  and  direction 
of  emigrants,  enabling  them  to  locate  favorably  on  lands  in  the 
great  West  and  Northwest,  Mr.  Onahan  was  appointed  secretary 
and  manager,  and  these  offices  he  retained  when,  in  1889,  the 
league  was  merged  into  the  Irish  Catholic  Colonization  Society  at 
the  first  Catholic  Congress  of  Baltimore — of  which  congress,  by 
the  way,  this  indefatigable  layman  was  chief  organizer.  Under 
his  auspices  Irish  Catholic  colonies  have  been  established  with 
much  success  in  Minnesota  and  Nebraska.  One  is  not  surprised, 
therefore,  that  the  late  Cardinal  McCloskey  and  the  present  Car- 
dinal Gibbons  have  expressed  their  cordial  admiration  of  Mr.  Ona- 
han's triumphant  labors  in  the  cause  of  religion  and  humanity. 
But  these  labors,  when  they  bore  their  latest  fruit  in  the  great 
Columbian  Catholic  Congress  of  1893,  which  was  inaugurated  by 
Mr.  Ouahan,  won  even  higher  ecclesiastical  appreciation — that  of 
Pope  Leo  XIII  himself.  In  December,  1893,  at.  the  instance  of  Car- 
dinal (ribbons,  backed  by  the  American  hierarchy,  his  Holiness 
appointed  Mr.  Onahan  "Chamberlain  of  the  Sword  and  Mantle,"  a 
form  of  honoring  laymen  which  dates  back  to  the  eleventh  cen- 
tury. Subsequently  the  Columbus  Hub  entertained  the  new  "Ca- 
meriere  Segreto"  at  a  banquet,  at  which  several  distinguished  pre- 
lates bore  strong  testimony  to  the  merit  which  the  Pope  had  hon- 
ored. 

Mr.  Onahan  has  creditably  held  various  public  offices,    lie  acted 


782  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF    THE 

as  school  inspector  in  1863-4.  In  1869  he  was  elected  city  collector 
on  the  Citizen's  ticket,  and  to  this  office  he  was  again  returned  by 
appointment  in  1879,  1881,  1883,  1885  and  1887,  resigning  in  1888. 
Next  year  he  was  appointed  to  the  important  office  of  Comptroller, 
which  he  filled  for  two  years,  much  to  the  advantage  of  the  munic- 
ipal finances  of  Chicago.  He  was  also  member  of  the  Public  Li- 
brary Board,  1874-1881. 

His  library  is  worthy  of  special  mention ;  it  is  a  vast  collection 
of  rare  and  interesting  volumes,  many  of  them  not  to  be  duplicated 
in  Chicago,  some  perhaps  not  in  America.  His  home,  No.  37  Ma- 
callister  place,  is  the  frequent  meeting  place  of  the  social  and  liter- 
ary Loyola  Club. 

In  1869  Mr.  Onahan  manned  Miss  Margaret  C.  Duffy.  Of  six 
children  they  have  left  but  one,  Miss  Onahan,  secretary  of  the 
Loyola  Club  and  a  talented  contributor  to  various  Catholic  maga- 
zines. 


HON.  THOMAS  BRENAN. 


A  very  remarkable  man  is  Thomas  Breuan.  Ever  unpreten- 
tious of  his  own  merits,  he  has  pursued  year  in  and  year  out,  the 
even  tenor  of  his  ways,  always  doing  as  best  he  can  whatever  labor 
or  duty  falls  to  his  lot  in  the  course  of  affairs.  Mr.  Brenan,  to  use 
his  own  terms,  has  called  himself  merely  "an  average  good  citizen," 
but  certaiuly.one  who  has  responsibly  been  in  the  official  life  of  the 
city  continuously  for  at  least  thirty-five  years,  must  defer  some- 
what to  the  more  flattering  judgment  of  his  contemporaries. 

Thomas  Brenan  was  born  on  Prince  Edward  Island  in  Nova 
Scotia.  His  father  was  Martin  Brenan,  a  farmer  of  Wexford,  who 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  783 

went  to  Dublin,  married  there,  and  soon  after  sailed  for  America, 
settling  for  the  time  in  Prince  Edward  Island,  Nova  Scotia.  Mr. 
Martin  Brenan  was  a  merchant,  and  it  was  during  his  business 
career  in  Nova  Scotia  that  his  son  Thomas,  the  subject  of  onr  sketch, 
was  born.  He  accompanied  his  father  to  the  United  States  in  1844, 
the  family  settling  in  Boston,  where  Thomas  Brenan  attended  an 
excellent  school.  Mr.  Brenau,  Sr.,  settled  in  Chicago  in  1849,  going 
into  business  in  a  two-story  building  on  the  corner  of  Lake  Street 
and  Wabash  Avenue.  The  family  lived  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
building  over  the  store,  and  was  at  once  attached  to  the  Parish  of 
St  Mary's  Catholic  Church,  then  on  Madison  Street.  Young  Brenan, 
in  early  life,  entered  the  employment  of  Stearns  &  Springer,  dealers 
in  hardware  on  Fifth  Avenue,  at  that  time  called  Wells  Street. 

Although  a  successful  and  winning  salesman,  Mr.  Brenau 
thought  he  could  do  better  in  the  City  of  Peoria  than  in  Chicago, 
Peoria  at  that  time  making  some  very  considerable  pretensions  to 
rival  the  future  nietrojwlis  of  the  West.  He  accepted  the  position 
of  chief  clerk  in  the  Peoria  Hotel,  and  made  a  very  marked  success 
of  his  new  line  in  life.  For  two  years  he  continued  in  charge  of  that 
popular  house,  but  soon  after  that  time  returned  to  Chicago  and 
went  into  business  for  himself  under  the  firm  name  of  Brenan  & 
Gillen.  At  this  time  he  was  a  near  friend  and  liberal  supporter  of 
Senator  Douglas,  and  in  the  fierce  struggle  that  preceded  the  war, 
was  known  as  "a  Douglas  Democrat."  He  was  also  at  that  time,  as 
all  public  citizens  were,  a  member  of  the  historic  fire  department, 
and  helped  to  man  the  engine  Red  Jacket  No.  4,  his  captain  being 
D.  J.  Swenie,  the  present  fire  marshal  of  the  city.  He  was  always 
prominent  in  Catholic  societies;  was  a  member  of  the  same  literary 
society  with  Colonel  James  A.  Mulligan,  the  Hon.  Barney  d.  Caul- 
field,  congressman  of  the  south  division,  the  Hon.  W.  J.  Onahan, 
afterwards  city  comptroller,  B.  J.  Semmes  and  other  influential  and 
really  brilliant  young  Irish  Catholics.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  war, 


784  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OP    THE 

this  pleasant  phase  of  life  with  Thomas  Brenan  came  suddenly  to 
an  end.  The  celebrated  Colonel  Mulligan  had  raised  the  force 
afterwards  known  as  the  Mulligan  Brigade,  in  which  Mr.  Brenau 
was  appointed  second-lieutenant.  He  went  to  the  front  with  the 
brigade,  was  with  Colonel  Mulligan  in  West  Virginia,  and  was  on 
staff  duty  the  day  on  which,  the  gallant  Mulligan  was  killed. 
He  was  also  close  to  the  spot  where  the  brave  young  Nugent  was 
shot  down,  at  the  time  being  exposed  to  the  bullets  of  the  enemy. 
Colonel  Mulligan  at  that  time  commanded  20,000  men,  the 
famous  brigade  bore  its  part  with  terrible  effect  upon  the 
enemy,  but  its  own  losses  were  great  and  it  came  out  of  action  a 
broken  organization.  Upon  his  return  to  Chicago  after  the  war, 
Mr.  Breuan  was  identified  with  mercantile  pursuits,  but  soon  after- 
wards relinquished  them  to  assist  W.  J.  Onahan,  who  had  been  ap- 
pointed city  collector,  and  subsequently  filled  the  responsible  post 
of  assistant  to  the  popular  and  well  remembered  Daniel  O'Hara, 
who  had  been  elected  city  treasurer.  He  was  subsequently  ap- 
pointed assistant  treasurer  under  City  Treasurer  Seipp,  the  ap- 
pointment being  purely  a  business  rather  than  a  political  one,  for 
Mr.  Brenan's  competency  was  as  notable  as  his  integrity.  When 
Kudolph  Brand  succeeded  Seipp  as  City  Treasurer,  Mr.  Breuan  was 
paid  the  marked  tribute  of  a  reappoiutment.  Later  on,  when  Mr. 
Seipp  became  County  Treasurer,  he  remembered  the  able,  honest 
man  who  had  been  his  assistant  in  the  City  Treasurer's  office,  and 
he  secured  his  services  as  Assistant  County  Treasurer.  Soon  after, 
Mr.  Brenan  went  into  the  real  estate  business,  in  which  he  is  still 
engaged  as  head  of  the  firm  of  Cremin  &  Brenan.  Tom  Brenan's 
goodness  and  unselfishness  will  be  fully  realized  one  day — when  he 
will  have  gone  to  his  reward. 

For  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  Thomas  Brenan  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  Chicago.  As  such  he  en- 
joys the  rare  distinction  of  having  earned  the  verdict  of  citizens  of 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  785 

all  classes,  creeds  and  parties,  that  whatsoever  may  be  said  of 
others,  his  record  stands  unstained  by  a  speck  of  dishonor,  un- 
clouded by  even  the  shadow  of  unworthy  suspicion.  His  career  as 
a  member  of  the  school  board,  as  all  Chicagoaus  know,  has  not  been 
merely  negatively  worthy.  Every  one  who  knows  anything  about 
the  administration  of  school  affairs  in  Chicago,  realizes  that  the 
services  of  Mr.  Brenan  to  the  cause  of  education  during  his  connec- 
tion with  the  board  have  been  priceless,  inestimable.  He  had  never 
been  in  favor  of  radical  innovations,  but  he  has  ever  been  alert, 
quick  to  see  the  value  of  modern  developments  and  ready  to  apply 
them  conservatively  and  in  a  business-like  way.  While  he  has  been 
loyal  to  the  interests  of  Chicago  and  to  the  interests  of  education, 
he  has  been  supremely  faithful  to  the  interests  of  the  army  of  work- 
ers who  comprise  the  teaching  force  of  the  Chicago  public  schools. 
In  their  troubles,  in  their  struggles,  in  their  anxieties,  the  Chicago 
teachers,  high  and  humble  alike,  know  that,  there  is  one  man  to 
whom  they  can  go  for  assistance  and  advice,  and  who  will  treat 
them  with  the  helpfulness  and  solicitude  of  a  father  and  a  friend. 
In  this  connection  it  can  be  truthfully  said,  that  when  Thomas 
Brenan  passes  away  from  the  scenes  of  his  goodness  and  charity, 
the  most  enduring  monuments  to  glorify  his  memory  Avill  be  the 
countless  homes  which  owe  their  happiness  and  brightness  to  him. 

The  charitable  institutions  in  Chicago  have  in  Mr.  Brenan  an 
invaluable  friend.  The  heads  of  many  of  these  institutions,  un- 
versed in  the  ways  of  the  world,  tyros  in  the  intricacies  of  business 
transactions,  invariably  and  unfailingly  call  on  Thomas  Brenan  in 
their  difficulties.  In  their  distress  to  him  they  appeal;  he  always 
knows  how  and  where  to  secure  the  wherewithal  to  tide  them  over 
their  privations,  sometimes  he  secures  it  from  others,  oftener  it 
comes  from  his  own  personal  resources.  Not  a  trace  of  vanity  or 
self-glorification  is  there  in  the  character  of  Thomas  Breuan.  He 
is  a  Catholic  of  Catholics.  His  faith  is  of  the  simple,  pure,  exalted 


786  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THF 

kind.  He  is  not  a  theoretical  Catholic.  His  Sunday  professions 
are  stamped  on  his  week-day  works.  He  is  not  a  bigoted  Catholic; 
he  has  a  helping  hand  and  a  friendly  word  for  all  who  need  the  one 
or  seek  the  other,  whatever  their  creed.  He  shrinks  from  notoriety. 
He  has  no  yearning  for  honors,  and  once  he  set  a  good  many  people 
wondering  by  frowning  on  a  movement  designed  to  secure  for  him 
a  mark  of  notable  distinction  at  the  hands  of  Pope  Leo  XIII.  They 
wanted  to  transform  "Tom"  Brenau  into  "Count"  Brenan.  He 
stamped  out  the  movement  immediately  after  its  inception.  He 
killed  the  movement  outright  and  penned  as  its  epitaph :  "There  is 
no  prouder  title  than  that  of  a  plain  American  citizen." 


JOHN   GREEN. 


John  Green,  member  of  the  well  known  contractors  firm  of  Far- 
ley &  Green,  was  born  January  12th,  1862,  in  County  Sligo,  Ireland, 
where  his  father  Robert  Green  followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer. 

What  little  of  early  educational  advantages  the  subject  of  the 
present  sketch  enjoyed  was  received  in  the  national  schools  of  Ire- 
land, which  he  left  at  an  early  age  and  for  some  time  worked  on  his 
father's  farm.  Then  a  little  over  thirteen  years  of  age,  the  boy 
journeyed  to  Glasgow,  where  he  found  work  in  the  ship  yards,  but 
his  wages  as  an  apprentice  were  so  small  that  after  a  hard  trial  of 
six  months,  without  even  being  able  to  earn  a  sufficient  amount  to 
pay  living  expenses,  he  was  forced  to  give  up.  Hardship  and  pov- 
erty seemingly  being  his  portion  on  land,  he  decided  to  take-up  the 
sea  for  a  living,  and  sailed  from  Glasgow  on  a  ship  called  "Our 
Queen,"  bound  for  the  East  Indies.  Two  months  out,  the  ship  took 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  787 

fire,  and  it  became  necessary  to  head  for  a  lone  island  in  the  South- 
ern Pacific  Ocean  named  Christandicuno.  The  fire,  which  started 
at  four  p.  in.,  was  fought  ineffectually  all  night  in  the  endeavor  to 
confine  it  to  the  hold  of  the  vessel,  but  at  last  all  hope  had  to  be 
abandoned,  and  the  only  thing  to  be  done  was  to  abandon.  Their 
ocean  home  in  flames,  they  took  to  the  boats  with,  the  object  of 
reaching  the  island,  but  then  another  obstacle  was  encountered, 
for  the  wind  changed  to  a  direction  immediately  off  the  laud,  and 
so  they  were  prevented  from  reaching  the  shore.  Of  food  they  had 
a  sufficiency,  but  there  was  no  water,  a  fact  which  occasioned  them 
all  considerable  suffering.  At  last,  however,  after  some  hours  of 
suspense,  a  phenomenally  huge  wave  caught  the  boats  and  landed 
them  safely  almost  on  the  beach  and  in  near  proximity  to  a  bub- 
bling stream  of  fresh  water.  Twelve  days  having  been  passed  on 
the  island,  provisions  began  to  run  short,  and  the  weather  having 
moderated,  the  boat  was  launched  and  a  sail  was  made  for  the 
island  settlement.  Here  the  government  was  found  to  be  entirely 
on  the  Socialistic  plan,  and  the  people  would  accept  no  money,  de- 
claring it  of  no  use  whatever  to  them.  They  lived  by  tilling  the 
land,  raising  necessaries  and  supplying  vessels  with  vegetables  in 
trade  for  bolts  of  calico  or  other  fabrics,  and  occasionally  for  tea 
or  coffee.  It  was  three  months  before  an  American  whaler  put  in 
for  fresh  provisions,  and  though  the  islanders  were  anxious  they 
should  all  remain  and  help  develop  the  island,  they  bade  their 
friends  good-bye  and  sailed  for  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  A  week 
later  an  English  troop  ship  bound  for  London  was  spoken,  and, 
going  aboard,  the  wrecked  sailors  in  five  weeks  found  themselves 
in  London.  All  Mr.  Green's  possessions  were  the  clothes  he  had 
on  and  three  shillings  in  cash,  so  he  was  obliged  to  go  back  to  the 
steamer  and  set  to  work  unloading.  He  remained  some  time  with 
that  vessel  and  then  shipped  on  the  "Nemesis"  for  South  America. 
When  land  was  sighted,  with  another  shipmate,  leave  was  ob- 


788  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OP   THE 

tained  to  go  ashore,  and  instead  of  returning,  work  was  found  as 
section  hand  on  a  railroad.  The  change  was  not  for  the  better, 
and  both  decided  to  try  and  find  work  in  the  city  of  Lima.  Mr. 
Green  was  at  this  time,  however,  taken  sick  with  ague,  and  was 
laid  up  a  considerable  time,  during  which  he  studied  the  Spanish 
language.  He  was  barely  convalescent  when  the  doctor  told  him 
he  would  have  to  leave  the  hospital,  and  it  was  only  on  his  hard 
request  and  having  shown  his  knowledge  of  Spanish  by  writing  an 
application  in  that  language  that  he  was  able  to  obtain  a  place  in 
the  hospital  as  doctor's  clerk.  His  duties  were  to  write  down  the 
prescriptions,  carry  the  same  to  the  drug  store  and  afterwards  ad- 
minister to  the  patients.  He  was  chiefly  assigned  to  the  surgical 
ward,  and  there  he  became  acquainted  with  a  number  of  railroad 
men,  one  of  whom  was  a  district  superintendent  suffering  from  a 
broken  leg.  Being  well  disposed  towards  the  young  man,  he  per- 
suaded the  latter  to  let  him 'the  contract  for  building  four  miles  of 
road,  upon  which  Mr.  Green  was  able  to  clear  |20,000.  Again  bad 
health  forced  him  into  the  hospital,  and  on  recovery  he  embraced 
the  chance  of  a  place  as  boy  on  an  England  bound  ship.  For  some 
months  he  studied,  making  a  specialty  of  navigation  subjects,  and 
then  went  to  sea  on  short  trips  for  the  following  four  years.  His 
next  move  was  a  place  as  first  mate  on  a  large  sailing  vessel,  trad- 
ing between  Montreal  and  Liverpool.  While  in  the  former  port, 
some  lake  captains  of  his  acquaintance  induced  him  to  become  a 
sailor  on  the  lakes.  His  decision  was  an  unfortunate  one,  for  the 
fall  of  1874  found  him  in  Chicago  without  a  cent.  Looking  after 
work,  he  visited  Armour's  packing  house  and  got  a  job  for  the  win- 
ter as  fireman.  The  spring  following  he  was  led  by  glowing  ac- 
counts of  money  to  be  made  to  go  into  the  woods  of  Wisconsin  and 
cut  timber  for  the  barrel  factories.  The  work,  however,  failed  to 
pay  expenses,  and  he  returned  to  Armour's  packing  house,  where 
he  worked  in  every  department  and  obtained  a  very  thorough 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  789 

knowledge  of  the  business.  Mr.  Green  left  the  service  of  Mr.  Ar- 
mour to  enter  the  employ  of  the  hitter's  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Chapin, 
as  engineer  and  tank  man,  or  head  lard-maker.  A  few  months 
afterwards  Mr.  John  Cmlahy  came  to  this  city  from  Milwaukee,  and 
the  firm  of  Chapin  &  Cndahy  was  formed,  Mr.  Green  retaining  tin- 
same  position.  Mr.  Chapiu  left  the  linn  later,. and  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  worked  with  Mr.  J.  (Judahy  for  sixteen  years,  resign! nu 
just  twelve  months  before  the  latter's  failure. 

For  some  time  he  looked  after  the  property  he  had  been  able  to 
accumulate,  but  his  disposition  was  far  too  active  to  be  satisfied 
with  that  kind  of  life,  so  he  once  more  set  out  seeking  a  position. 
At  last  he  found  a  place  as  night  superintendent  of  Machinery  Hall 
at  the  World's  Fair,  and  there  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the 
exposition.  Shortly  afterwards  he  went  to  work  for  Mr.  Farley, 
and  six  months  later  the  partnership  which  now  exists  was  formed. 
Their  success  has  been  of  a  very  appreciable  character,  the  firm 
now  owning  a  couple  of  steam  shovels  and  a  couple  of  railroad  cars. 
Work  is  now  being  done  on  the  West  Forty-eighth  Street  system 
of  sewers,  the  contract  of  Farley  \  <  Jreen  amounting  to  f  210,000. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Green  has  always  been  a  Republican, 
and  in  national  affairs  he  will  always  so  remain.  He  was  married 
in  April,  18 — , to  Elizabeth  Driscoll,  and  they  have  a  family  of  three 
children,  one  boy  and  two  girls. 

Mr.  Green  is  beyond  all  question  an  excellent  example  of  the 
man  who,  through  early  disadvantages  and  drawbacks,  hard  work 
and  many  vicissitudes,  has  fought  his  way  to  an  honorable  position 
and  a  competence,  demonstrating  plainly  that  where  there  is  a 
will  there  is  a  way.  In  his  personal  appearance  he  is  a  man  of  fine 
physique,  tall  and  well  set  up,  and  evidencing  at  once  a  fine  con 
stitution  and  a  rich  supply  of  business  abilities  and  indomitable 
energy. 


790  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 


CAPTAIN   JOHN    BYRNE. 


Well  up  in  the  roll  of  honorable  mention  on  the  records  of  the 
Chicago  Police  Department,  is  the  name  of  Captain  John  Byrne. 
The  best  years  of  his  life  have  been  given  to  the  service  and  at 
a  time  when  the  history  of  the  city  was  full  of  important  incident, 
years  during  which  occurred  some  of  the  most  notable  events  in 
the  growth  and  development  of  Chicago.  For  twenty-five  years 
was  Captain  Byrne  a  worthy,  gallant  and  trusted  officer  in  the 
city's  service,  a  period  of  duty  commenced  in  the  ranks  as  a  patrol- 
man, extending  through  all  grades  of  promotion  and  ending  with 
the  distinction  of  a  captain's  rank  and  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
all  who  ever  knew  him  either  in  official  or  social  life.  From  the 
time  he  first  took  up  police  duty  at  the  "Old  Armory"  station  under 
Superintendent  William  Kennedy,  in  the  autumn  of  1870,  till  his 
retirement  as  a  captain  on  the  pension  list,  an  honorable  member  of 
the  Veteran  Police  Association,  Captain  Byrne  has  always  led 
a  most  active  career,  replete  with  incident  and  responsibility,  and 
frequently  fraught  with  danger.  The  most  trying  and  irksome  rou- 
tine duty  found  in  him  a  cheerful  and  faithful  servant,  and  occa- 
sions of  public  excitement  and  danger,  a  judicious  and  fearless  offi- 
cer. In  times  of  public  turbulence  and  danger,  resulting  from  the 
strikes  and  riots,  in  the  trades,  on  the  railroads,  and  through  the 
anarchist  troubles,  which  created  most  grave  conditions  in  this 
city,  the  utmost  confidence  was  placed  in  his  judgment  and  courage. 
It  is  noteworthy  that  when  in  charge  of  the  Deering  Street  district, 
the  locality  of  many  serious  strikes  among  the  rolling  mill  em- 
ployes and  iron  ore  workers,  as  in  other  large  strikes  and  threat- 
ened riots,  Captain  Byrne  could  accomplish  better  results  with 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  791 

masses  of  determined  and  excited  men  by  reasoning  and  persuasion 
than  could  be  gained  from  any  show  of  mere  force.  His  possession 
of  a  very  high  degree  of  executive  ability,  as  valuable  as  it  is  rare, 
was  splendidly  shown  in  the  admirable  way  in  which  he  managed 
the  central  or  down-town  district  of  this  great  city  during  the 
crowded  and  exciting  times  of  the  World's  Fair,  and  afterwards  to 
the  close  of  1895.  When  the  late  Carter  H.  Harrison  became  the 
"World's  Fair  mayor"  of  Chicago,  he  at  once  appointed  Captain 
Byrne  to  the  full  charge  of  its  central  or  down-town  district,  with 
headquarters  at  the  City  Hall.  To  preserve  order  and  protect  the 
center  of  the  city  and  the  many  thousands  of  citizens  within  it,  at 
such  a  time,  and  under  such  trying  circumstances,  speaks  volumes 
for  the  capacity,  courage  and  executive  ability  of  Captain  Byrne, 
yet  that  the  great  task  was  efficiently  performed  is  proved  by  the 
fact  that  though  his  four  special  details  of  officers,  each  one  hun- 
dred strong,  looked  almost  lost  in  the  vast  crowds  prevailing,  rob- 
beries from  the  person,  from  stores,  and  accidents  were  of  very  rare 
occurrence  during  that  exciting  time.  In  fact,  a  robbery  of  any 
importance  or  value  or  an  accident  of  very  serious  nature  was  not 
reported  during  the  whole  period  in  the  great  and  crowded  district 
of  which  he  had  responsible  control.  This  is  a  chapter  of  police 
experience  which  is  in  itself  a  distinction  and  a  fitting  climax  to  an 
honorable  public  career. 

Captain  John  Byrne  was  born  in  Oran,  County.  Koscoinmon, 
Ireland,  in  1847.  His  father,  Patrick  Byrne,  came  of  a  family  of 
substantial  farmers  long  settled  in  that  place,  where  yet  the  old 
farm  remains  in  good  condition  and  in  the  possession  of  an  elder 
brother.  His  father  was  noted  as  a  fine  stock  raiser,  particularly 
for  his  fine  horses  and  sheep.  His  horses  repeatedly  took  English, 
Irish  and  Scotch  prizes  at  the  great  horse  fairs  held  in  Galway, 
and  his  sheep  took  prizes  and  brought  the  highest  prices  at  Ballin- 
asloe  Fair,  County  Galway.  The  captain's  mother,  Catharine 


792  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY   OF    THE 

(McDermott)  Byrne,  was  a  daughter  of  a  McDermott  family  long 
settled  as  fanners  at  Cloonkeene  near  Castle  Ray. 

Young  Byrne  received  his  first  education  at  a  monastery  school 
and  later  at  the  public  school.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  accom- 
panied an  uncle  to  the  United  States.  For  two  years  he  clerked 
in  a  New  York  store  and  then  came  west,  reaching  Ottawa  in  18G7. 
In  the  autumn  of  that  year  he  settled  in  Chicago  and  was  employed 
in  the  hotel  business  until  1870,  when  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
Chicago  Police  Department.  His  first  duty  was  at  the  "Old 
Armory,"  Adams  and  Franklin  Streets,  and  it  was  while  attached 
to  this  district  that  he  was  promoted  to  a  sergeantcyj  October  1st, 
1874.  A  difference  between  two  superior  officials  of  the  depart- 
ment brought  about  Sergeant  Bryne's  retirement  in  1877,  and  he 
went  into  business  on  his  own  account  for  a  couple  of  years  there- 
after. When  elected  for  his  first  term  in  1879,  Mayor  Carter  II. 
Harrison  reinstated  Sergeant  Byrne,  promoted  him  to  a  lieutenancy 
and  he  was  assigned  to  duty  at  the  Harrison  Street  Station, 
where  he  remained  till  December,  1880.  Subsequently  he  was 
given  charge  of  the  great  Deering  Street  District,  with  headquar- 
ters at  the  Fourth  Precinct  Station,  where  he  remained  until  1887. 
He  served  under  Mayors  Cregier  and  Washburne  at  Stanton  Ave- 
nue, Twenty- second,  the  Central  and  Maxwell  Street  Stations  until 
the  re-election  of  Carter  H.  Harrison  in  1893,  as  "World's  Fair 
mayor"  of  Chicago.  Mayor  Harrison  made  Lieutenant  Byrne  a 
captain,  and  he  was  at  once  appointed  to  the  responsible  post  in 
charge  of  the  central  division  of  the  city  during  the  World's  Fair 
period,  alluded  to  above. 

Captain  Byrne  was  an  early  member  of  the  Columbus  Club  and 
of  the  Irish  American  Club.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
St.  Patrick,  Independent  Order  of  Foresters,  the  Police  Benevolent 
and  Veteran  Police  Associations.  His  religious  views  are  those  of 
a  liberal  Catholic,  and  his  political  affiliations  have  usually  been 
with  the  Democratic  party. 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  793 

He  married  September  29th,  1874,  Miss  Mary  F.  Seery,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  Seery,  who  for  a  number  of  years  kept  the  Harrison 
House  in  this  city.  Their  children  are  one  son,  Thomas  P.  Byrne, 
educated  at  St.  Viateur's  College,  Kankakee,  and  the  De  LaSalle 
Institute;  and  four  daughters,  Kate,  Irene,  Maggie  and  Bernice, 
all  of  whom  attended  the  academy  connected  with  St  James 
Church. 


CAPTAIN  MARTIN   HOGAN. 


Captain  Martin  Hogan,  the  well-known  owner  and  manager  of 
Hogan's  Transfer  Line,  was  born  in  County  Tipperary,  Ireland,  on 
the  banks  of  the  beautiful  Shannon,  on  St  Patrick's  day,  1837. 
His  father,  Roger  Hogan,  as  well  as  his  mother,  was  a  native  of  the 
same  county,  as  indeed  were  his  ancestry  for  several  hundred 
years  before. 

Martin  Hogan  was  educated  in  the  parish  schools  of  his  native 
place,  leaving  school  at  an  early  age  to  work  for  his  father,  who 
owned  a  number  of  boats,  technically  known  as  sloops,  on  the 
Shannon.  He  came  to  this.country  in  1854  and  settled  in  Chicago, 
beginning  his  career  on  the  lake  boats,  in  which  he  worked  before 
the  mast.  After  about  two  years,  he  secured  an  interest  in  some 
boats  plying  between  Chicago  and  St.  Louis,  and  from  such  a  com- 
mencement he  has  gradually  advanced  from  common  sailor  to  cap- 
tain and  from  captain  of  one  boat  to  be  captain  and  owner 
of  a  considerable  number.  This  occupation  has  always  been 
the  main  interest  and  business  of  his  life,  although  at  various 
times  he  has  been  interested  in  real  estate  and  also  in  the 

43 


794  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

coal  business.  Captain  Hogan,  as  his  carriage  and  general  bear- 
ing gives  witness,  was  for  several  years  a  member  of  the  Mont- 
gomery Guards,  and  was  on  duty  in  the  lager  beer  riots. 

Captain  Uogan,  Avho  has  traveled  extensively  through  the 
South  and  West  for  pleasure  and  information  apart  from  his  busi- 
ness operations,  has  a  fund  of  information,  and  is  a  very  interesting 
conversationalist. 

He  was  married  April  10th,  1860,  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  James 
Watson,  of  County  Armagh,  Ireland.  They  have  one  son,  who  is 
married  and  the  father  of  three  boys,  and  also  a  daughter  un- 
married. 

Even  by  this  brief  sketch  it  is  possible  to  see  in  what  manner 
Captain  Hogan  has,  without  any  exterior  advantages,  raised  him- 
self to  a  high  and  honorable  position  and  thereby  fulfilling  the  chief 
ambition  of  his  life.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  presence,  and  bears  his 
years  in  a  remarkable  way,  notwithstanding  the  struggles  and  hard 
work  of  his  youth  and  early  manhood.  To  see  him  sitting  in  his 
handsome  residence  on  Greenwood  Avenue,  surrounded  by  his 
wife,  children  and  grandchildren,  makes  a  picture  of  domestic  com- 
fort and  contentment  it  is  most  interesting  to  contemplate. 


TIMOTHY   O'SULLIVAN. 


This  popular  Chicago  Irishman,  one  of  the  best  known  figures 
in  City  Hall  circles,  was  born  in  the  historic  town  of  Bantry,  County 
Cork,  Ireland,  April  1st,  1844.  His  parents  were  Patrick  and  Dora 
(Burchell)  O'Sullivan,  his  father,  a  native  of  Kerry,  was  engaged  in 
the  boot  and  shoe  business.  The  latter  died  in  1860  in  Ireland. 


AMERICAN   IRISH   IN   CHICAGO.  795 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  education  in  the  national 
schools  of  his  native  town  and  afterwards  in  Dublin,  graduating 
from  the  latter  in  1863.  Schooling  over,  his  first  occupation  was 
the  charge  of  a  national  school  as  principal  from  18G5  to  18G8.  Fie 
was  engaged  as  private  tutor  to  the  family  in  Ireland,  and  was 
private  secretary  to  the  chief  of  mining  engineers'  department 
when  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Mayor  Rice  of  Chicago,  and 
in  18(J8  he  came  to  the  United  States  and  was  given  a  place  under 
him  in  the  Board  of  Public  Works.  From  that  time,  with  but  one 
interval,  he  has  been  in  the  public  service,  and  has  done  duty  in 
every  department  of  the  city  and  county  government.  During  the 
exception  referred  to — which  lasted  five  years — he  was  principal  of 
St.  Patrick's  Academy,  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  when  he  returned  to  Chi- 
cago he  entered  the  office  of  the  County  Treasurer,  to  which  he  has 
since  been  continuously  attached. 

Besides  his  service  for  the  city,  he  can  also  lay  claim  to  being 
one  of  the  oldest  and  most  popular  teachers  in  the  night  schools  of 
Chicago,  that  additional  occupation  having  been  his  since  he  first 
came  to  this  city.  At  the  present  time  he  is  attached  to  the  Gar- 
field  school. 

Mr.  O'Sullivan  was  married  in  February,  1865,  to  Nora  O'Con- 
nor of  Dunmanway,  and  they  have  had  two  children,  a  son  and  a 
daughter,  the  latter  being  deceased.  The  son,  who  holds  a  position 
as  record  clerk  in  the  Criminal  Court,  is  married  and  has  a  family. 

A  Democrat  in  his  political  connections,  Mr.  O'Sullivan  is  in 
religion  a  Roman  Catholic.  He  was  formerly  secretary  of  the  An- 
cient Order  of  Hibernians  and  president  of  Division  7,  and  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Catholic  Benevolent  Legion.  Some  years  ago  he 
was  one  of  the  old  Montgomery  Light  Guards,  which,  although  not 
under  State  control,  did  regular  military  service  during  the  great 
fire  of  1871. 

Courteous  and  kindly  at  all  times,  invariably  generous  and  lib- 


796  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 

eral,  an  honest,  straightforward  Irishman,  devoted  to  the  country 
of  his  adoption,  but  at  no  time  forgetful  of  the  land  of  his  birth, 
Timothy  O'Sullivan  is  a  true  and  thorough  representative  of  the 
American  Irish  in  Chicago. 


REV.  MAURICE  J.  DORNEY. 


The  Reverend  Maurice  J.  Dorney  may  well  be  counted  among 
those  who  fortunately  have  chosen  that  life  vocation  for  which 
they  are  best  fitted.  The  natural  and  temperamental  endowments 
which  in  him  contribute  to  a  strongly  marked  character,  easily 
lend  themselves  to  the  facile  and  successful  accomplishment  of  the 
many-sided  duties  inevitable  to  the  life  of  an  active  priest  of  the 
church.  Successively  as  student,  curate,  missionary,  assistant  and 
settled  pastor,  his  life  has  ever  been  so  active  as  to  worthily  win 
for  him  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  ranks  of  the  church  militant,  and 
though  yet  in  the  prime  of  life,  large  is  the  number  of  those  in 
Chicago  and  Illinois  who  affectionately  appreciate  the  ministra- 
tions, advice  and  assistance  of  Father  Maurice  Dorney. 

Irish  in  lineage  and  intense  in  the  patriotic  sympathies  which 
have  always  identified  him  with  the  furtherance  of  national  Irish 
interests,  Father  Dorney  is  nevertheless  American  by  nativity, 
having  been  born  in  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  March  llth,  1851. 
Thus  from  boyhood  he  developed  within  the  atmosphere  and  sur- 
roundings of  free,  political  and  social  institutions,  and  that  the 
electric  energy  and  dauntless  ambition  characteristic  of  Chicago 
early  impressed  him  is  evident  in  the  prolific  results  already  appar- 
ent in  his  life  work.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  already  Father 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.       -  797 

Dorncy's  career  may  well  be  considered  an  epitome  of  labor,  inci- 
dent, trial  and  success  inevitable  to  rapid  progress  under  great 
ditticulties.  It  suggests  in  detail  that  rapid  progress  of  material, 
educational  and  religious  life  in  what  is  now  a  great  and  valuable 
section  of  modern  Chicago,  but  which  at  the  time  he  commenced 
his  practical  missionary  work,  was  but  little  more  than  a  scattered 
unimproved  settlement,  scarcely  redeemed  from  the  surrounding 
prairie.  The  scope  of  the  picture  represents  a  retrospect  of  all 
that  has  been  accomplished  for  the  material,  educational  and  re- 
ligious development  of  that  division  of  Chicago  called  the  Town  of 
Lake  and  the  stock  yards  district  in  the  last  seventeen  years.  The 
review  carries  the  thoughtful  observer  from  the  present  command- 
ing and  handsome  St.  Gabriel's  Catholic  Church — designed  by 
Burnham  &  Root  and  costing  approximately  $100,000 — to  a  day 
early  in  1880,  when  on  April  llth  Father  Dorney  organized  the 
parish  in  an  old  frame  building  rented  for  the  purpose  on  upper 
South  Halsted  Street.  There  is  an  occasional  suggestion  of  the 
common  sense  earnestness  of  the  Salvation  Army  in  some  of 
Father  Dorney's  methods,  and  his  selection  of  a  place  for  the  early 
religious  services  of  St.  Gabriel's,  partakes  of  that  character,  for  the 
building  devoted  to  the  interests  of  religion  and  education  had 
formerly  been  used  as  a  saloon  and  concert  hall.  For  the  work  of 
the  church  and  the  school  in  the  world  Father  Dorney  received 
thorough  training,  and  the  inspiration  of  much  of  its  decidedly 
practical  character  came  from  parents  both  largely  endowed  with 
strong  individuality. 

The  father  of  the  reverend  gentleman,  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  John  Dorney,  whose  people  were  long  resident  at  Longhur 
near  the  City  of  Limerick.  In  1846  Mr.  Doruey  came  to  the  United 
States,  settling  in  Troy,  New  York,  where  he  at  once  entered  upon 
the  business  of  lumber  inspection,  a  special  direction  of  knowledge 
he  followed  all  his  life,  and  for  which  in  Chicago  he  was  employed 


798  -     BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY    OF   THE 

by  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  for  twenty -five  years.  It  was 
while  in  Troy  that  Mr.  Dorney  married  Miss  Mary  Toomey,  the 
ceremony  being  performed  by  the  Rev.  Father  Haverrman,  still 
aliveat  the  date  of  this  writing  and  distinguished  as  the  oldest  priest 
in  the  United  States.  From  Troy  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dorney  removed  to 
Springfield,  Massachusetts,  where  Maurice  Dorney  was  born,  and 
several  years  afterwards  found  the  family  in  Chicago.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dorney  were  very  well  known  in  Chicago  and  many  old  citi- 
zens remember  them  with  respect  and  affection.  Three  children 
blessed  their  union,  Maurice,  the  clergyman,  and  two  daughters. 
Mr.  Doruey  died  in  November,  1894,  having  survived  his  wife 
about  six  years. 

It  was  at  the  old  "Mosely"  school,  Twenty-fourth  and  Michigan 
Avenue,  that  young  Maurice  Dorney,  destined  to  such  an  active 
and  useful  place  in  the  chapter  of  the  Catholic  clergy  of  Chicago, 
received  the  primary  groundwork  of  academic  education.  Subse- 
quently, in  1861,  he  was  a  student  at  the  old  university,  St.  Mary's, 
at  the  time  under  the  direction  of  that  noble,  scholarly  and  apos- 
tolic priest,  the  Rt.-Rev.  Dr.  McMullen,  sometime  Vicar-General  of 
the  diocese  of  Chicago  and  subsequently  Bishop  of  Davenport, 
Iowa.  When  Father  Dorney  was  a  student  at  Si  Mary's,  that 
noted  divinity  school  stood  nearly  upon  the  site  of  Holy  Name 
Cathedral,  an  entire  block  having  been  donated  by  William  B. 
Ogden,  the  great  real  estate  owner  and  dealer,  and  first  mayor  of 
Chicago,  to  the  purposes  of  Catholic  religion  and  education.  Two 
years  at  St  Mary's  was  followed  by  a  course  of  study  at  the  Acad- 
emy of  the  Christian  Brothers  at  old  St.  Patrick's,  Desplaines 
Street,  which  brought  the  subject  of  our  sketch  up  to  the  year  of 
1867.  From  thence  ensued  a  course  at  Holy  Angels'  College, 
Niagara  Falls,  till  June  of  1870,  when  young  Dorney  crowned  his 
studies  for  the  church  with  a  course  in  advanced  theology  at  St. 
Mary's  Seminary,  Baltimore,  bringing  him  up  to  the  date  of  his 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  799 

ordination  to  the  priesthood,  January  27th,  1874.  In  speaking  of 
this  momentous  period  of  his  life,  Father  Doruey  has  often  re- 
marked that  he  dwells  with  special  interest  and  pleasure  upon  the 
fact  that  he  was  ordained  to  the  sacred  ministry  by  Bishop  Foley 
at  the  altar  where  as  a  little  boy  he  had  served  the  mass,  old 
St.  James'  Church.  Immediately  after  taking  holy  orders  Father 
Dorney  was  appointed  to  duty  as  curate  at  St.  John's  Church, 
('lark  and  Eighteenth  Streets,  of  which,  at  the  time,  the  estimable 
Father  John  Waldron  was  rector.  Active  parish  and  church  work 
kept  him  at  St.  John's  for  two  and  a  half  years,  when  he  was  sent 
to  a  wider  field  in  charge  of  St.  Denis  Church,  Lockport,  one  of  the 
oldest  Catholic  parishes  in  the  state.  The  importance  of  this 
charge  can  best  be  understood  by  the  realization  of  the  fact  that  at 
the  time  the  scope  of  this  "parish"  embraced  the  territory  extend- 
ing from  the  city  limits  of  Chicago  to  those  of  Joliet  Within  an 
area  of  fully  thirty  miles,  including  Lemont,  Sag  Bridge,  and  other 
points,  at  the  time  represented  by  settlements  of  a  few  houses,  and 
on  an  average  throughout  the  district  ten  or  twelve  miles  apart, 
Father  Dorney  fcmnd  abundant  opportunity  for  constant  and  valu- 
able work.  "He  remained  for  four  years  at  Lockport,  years  of 
active  missionary  life.  Many  were  the  long  rides  over  rough  roads 
and  through  bad  weather  experienced  by  Father  Dorney  in  those 
early  days,  one  of  these  trips  to  visit  a  sick  woman  representing  a 
distance  of  seventy-four  miles,  while  a  drive  of  ten  to  fifteen  and 
twenty  miles  through  severe  storms  was  of  ordinary  occurrence. 
It  was  on  the  llth  of  April,  1880,  that  Father  Dorney's  present 
great  parish,  St.  Gabriel's,  was  organized,  the  large  and  handsome 
church,  commodious  schools  and  clergy  house  and  convent  having 
grown  from  the  humble  beginning  made  in  the  little  frame  build- 
ing known  as  Welch's  hall.  The  lady,  Mrs.  J.  J.  McCarthy,  who 
first  arranged  and  adorned  the  altar  for  the  services  of  St.  Gabriel's, 
is  alive  at  the  date  of  this  writing,  an  active  member  of  the  parish. 


800  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF    THE 

i 

To  form  an  adequate  idea  of  the  immense  sum  total  of  work  accom- 
plished by  Rev.  Father  Dorney  since  the  institution  of  St,  Gabriel's 
it  should  be  remembered  that  the  original  area  of  the  parish 
comprehended  all  that  territory  in  which,  at  present,  exist  a  num- 
ber of  large  and  important  Catholic  churches.  St.  Gabriel's  in  the 
early  years  ministered  to  the  residents  of  all  that  territory  now- 
occupied  by  the  churches  of  St.  George,  St.  Rose  of  Lima,  Church  of 
the  Visitation,  a  large  German  church  maintained  by  the  Fran- 
ciscans, St.  Elizabeth,  St  Cecilia  and  other  churches,  including 
two  devoted  to  the  spiritual  needs  of  the  Bohemian  and  Polish 
people  of  the  district. 

The  first  church,  a  frame  building,  the  windows  of  which  were 
from  Holy  Name  Cathedral,  presented  after  that  edifice  had  been 
nearly  destroyed  in  the  great  fire,  was  upon  a  part  of  the  site  of 
the  present  St.  Gabriel's,  and  this  did  service  from  1880  to  1881. 
In  the  latter  year  a  large  brick  building  was  put  up,  the  lower 
story  was  used  for  a  school  and  the  upper  story  for  church  pur- 
poses. The  growth  of  the  parish  and  its  educational  and  religious 
work  increased  enormously  as  the  large  district  of  which  it  is  the 
center  became  densely  populated  by  the  rapid  development  of  the 
stock  yards  district,  and  in  1888  the  erection  of  the  present  great 
church  was  commenced.  It  is  built  from  a  very  striking  and 
handsome  design  by  the  late  John  W.  Root,  early  Norman  in  style, 
of  brick  relieved  by  stone,  and  cost  approximately  about  $100,000. 
Archbishop  Feehan  laid  the  corner  stone  of  the  edifice,  which,  when 
completed,  was  dedicated  by  him  in  May,  1888.  The  church  and  ad- 
jacent convent  and  school  buildings  cover  an  area  of  two  acres, 
and  represent  the  results  of  seventeen  years  of  most  devoted,  cour- 
ageous and  faithful  work;  a  chapter  of  ambitious  effort  and  suc- 
cessful accomplishment  worthily  conspicuous  in  the  history  of  the 
Catholic  church  in  Chicago.  The  far  reaching  influences  of  the  work 
carried  forward  by  Father  Dorney  and  those  who  have  been  and  yet 


AMERICAN    IRISH   IN    CHICAGO.  801 

are  identified  with  him,  is  best  estimated  when  borne  in  mind  the 
fact  that  the  parish  is  practically  the  center  of  a  district,  the  popu- 
lation of  which  is  certainly  not  less  than  150,000  persons,  of  whom 
fully  12,000  families  are  Catholics,  averaging  five  persons  to  a 
family,  thus  representing  an  exceptionally  responsible  charge  and 
a  constant  ministration  to  00,000  souls.  A  marvelous  contrast  to 
the  community  of  certainly  not  more  than  four  hundred  families 
resident  in  the  district  when  the  active  work  of  St.  Gabriel's  parish 
was  begun. 

Father  Dorney  never  speaks  of  this  work,  however,  without 
alluding  to  a  few  devoted  friends  who  have  upheld  his  hands  and 
sustained  the  interests  of  education  and  religion  through  all  the 
necessary  trials  and  vicissitudes  of  a  long  period  of  years.  Notably 
prominent  among  these  he  invariably  names  with  respect  and  ap 
preciation,  indeed  with  enthusiasm,  the  well-known  citizen,  Mr. 
John  B.  Sherman,  an  active  and  ever  generous  patron  of  the  church 
and  an  ardent  supporter  of  every  interest  tending  to  the  welfare 
and  happiness  of  the  thousands  resident  in  this  great  industrial 
section. 


TIMOTHY   E.   RYAN. 


T.  K.  Ryan,  of  the  real  estate  firm  of  Ryan  &  Walsh,  well  repre- 
sents the  possibilities  open  to  Irish  perseverance  when  unfettered 
by  English  methods  or  untrammelled  by  Saxon  misrule. 

He  was  born  in  the  parish  of  Ballycahill,  County  Tipperary, 
Ireland,  in  1848,  and  was  only  four  years  old  when  he  was  brought 
to  this  country.  Ilis  family  landed  at  Pitttsburg,  Pennsylvania, 
and  remained  in  that  city  until  1855,  thence  to  Chicago,  which  was 


802  BIOGRAPHICAL   HISTORY   OF   THE 

for  a  few  years  his  home,  and  afterwards  a  removal  was  made  to 
Lockport,  Illinois,  where  he  and  his  brothers  learned  the  trade  of 
a  shipcarpenter  and  caulker.  The  firm  of  Ryan  Bros,  was  formed, 
but  after  a  short  stay  in  Lockport,  Timothy  E.  Ryan  decided  to 
come  to  Chicago,  and  started  in  business  for  himself  as  a  mer- 
chant. 

In  1884  the  popularity  he  had  won  and  the  reputation  he  had 
made  for  himself  was  evinced  by  his  election  by  the  citizens  of  the 
western  division  of  Chicago  as  West  Town  Assessor.  When  his 
term  of  office  expired,  he  started  in  the  real  estate  business,  in 
which  he  was  very  successful  and  quickly  found  a  prosperous  and 
lucrative  clientage.  He  was  re-elected  West  Town  Assessor  in 
1891,  and  served  another  two  years,  since  which  time  he  has  de- 
voted himself  to  the  increasing  cares  of  his  real  estate  business. 

Honored  and  esteemed  both  as  a  business  man  and  for  the  very 
worthy  manner  in  which  his  official  duties  were  performed,  Mr. 
Timothy  E.  Ryan  has  multitudinous  friends,  by  all  of  whom  he  is 
held  in  the  very  highest  consideration. 

At  this  writing,  April,  1897,  Mr.  Ryan  was  re-elected  West 
Town  Assessor  by  a  majority  of  27,200. 


DAVID   E.   SHANAHAN. 


David  E.  Shauahan,  our  well  known  state  legislator  and  one  of 
Chicago's  active  business  men,  is  a  native  of  Lee  County,  Illinois, 
where  he  was  born  September  7, 1862.  His  father,  George  Shana- 
han,  a  native  of  Waterford,  Ireland,  came  to  New  York  when  quite 


AMERICAN    IRISH    IN    CHICAGO.  803 

a  boy,  and  iu  1851  on  to  Chicago,  where  he  engaged  in  the  coopering 
trade.  He  is  now  retired  and  residing  in  this  city,  as  is  also  his 
wife,  mother  of  David  E. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  the  public  schools  and  high 
schools  of  Chicago,  from  which  lie  graduated,  and  also  attended  the 
old  university.  His  first  employment  was  with  the  National  But- 
teriue  Co.  as  clerk,  and  later  on  with  Griffin  &  Connelly,  ice  dealers, 
which  led  to  his  embarking  in  the  ice  business  on  his  own  account. 
At  the  present  time  Mr.  Shanahau  is  acting  as  manufacturer's  agent 
aoid  is  also  dealing  in  mining  operations.  In  1885  he  was  elected 
South  Town  Supervisor  on  the  Republican  ticket,  and  was  re-elect- 
ed in  1886.  Three  years  later  he  was  appointed  United  States 
Deputy  Marshal  for  the  Northern  District  of  Illinois,  a  position  he 
filled  until  1894.  In  the  latter  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Illinois 
State  Legislature,  Thirty-ninth  General  Assembly,  and  re-elected  in 
1896  to  the  Fortieth  General  Assembly,  which  honoi-able  position 
he  still  holds  at  this  writing.  In  the  Thirty-ninth  General  As- 
sembly Mr.  Shauahan  was  the  author  of  the  civil  service  bill,  which 
was  beyond  all  question  the  most  important  measure  of  that 
session. 

Mr.  Shanahan  has  been  an  active  and  valued  member  of  the 
Republican  party  ever  since  he  attained  his  majority— in  the  year 
that  John  F.  Finerty  was  first  elected  to  Congress  (1882) — taking  a 
prominent  part  in  its  councils,  conventions  and  projects,  in  fact 
in  everything  appertaining  not  only  to  the  advancement  of  his 
party  but  to  the  best  interests  of  the  community.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Royal  Arcanum  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Mr.  Shanahan  has  been  an  extensive  traveler  throughout  the 
United  States,  having,  as  he  says,  made  himself  acquainted  with 
thirty-five  states  out  of  the  forty-five,  visiting  not  only  the  leading 
cities  but  the  parks,  the  caves  and  mountains,  in  fact  all  points  of 
interest  and  attraction.  He  now  resides  with  his  parents  at  2722 


804  BIOGRAPHICAL    HISTORY    OF    THE 

Main  Street,  devoting  what  little  time  lie  can  obtain  outside  of  his 
political  and  business  duties  to  social  intercourse. 

Mr.  Shanalian  has  made  for  himself  a  most  creditable  record 
in  the  service  of  his  state  and  adopted  city,  and  unquestionably,  if 
the  promise  of  his  years  be  fulfilled,  there  is  before  him  a  career  of 
much  honor  and  usefulness. 


Page. 

Agnew,    Francis 568 

Ahern,  James  J 247 

Arthur,  William  H 106 

Bailey,  M.   B 764 

Barrett,  John  P 666 

Barry,  Patrick  T 278 

Bidwell,  Joseph  E 265 

Braden,  Joseph  C 714 

Brenan,  Thomas 782 

Boyle,  Lawrence  P 118 

Buckley,  William 660 

Bulger,  William  J 773 

Burke,  John  C 710 

Burke,   Thomas 694 

Burke,  William  H 265 

Burns,  James 594 

Byrne,  James  A 257 

Byrne,  John 790 

Cahill,  Daniel  P 182 

Cahill,  Patrick  J 164 

Callahan,  John  J 674 

Campion,  John 556 

Cannon,  Thomas  H 83 

Carmody,  Jeremiah  H 551 

Carroll,  John  M 641 

Case,  Theodore  G 346 

Casey,  John  D 174 

Cavanagh,  Patrick 737 

Clare,  John  F 43 

Coburn,  Henry  M 132 

Coburn,  John  J 190 

Colby,  Francis  T 558 

Cole,  Francis  R 238 

Collins,  Alexander 736 

Conroy,  Anthony  F 143 


Page. 

Con  way ,  Thomas  L 460 

Conwell,  James 719 

Coogan,  John  J 501 

Cooke,  John  S 520 

Corcoran,  Matthew  J 151 

Corkery,  Daniel 426 

Corrigan,  Charles  E 263 

Creelman,  Alvah  L 200 

Cremin,  John  F 687 

Cudahy,  John 176 

Cudahy,  Michael 192 

Cullerton,  Edward  F 553 

Cunnea,  William  A 305 

Curtis,  Bernard 683 

Dadie,  John 303 

DeLany,  Martin  A 554 

Delaney,  Daniel 168 

Devine,  Miles  J 678 

Devlin,  Frank  A 54 

Dignan,  Patrick 436 

Dillon,   John 585 

Dillon,  William 769 

Dixon,  Arthur 16 

Dolan,  Bernard 625 

Donahoe,   Daniel 727 

Donahoe,  John  T 536 

Donahoe,  Patrick  J 262 

Donlin,  John  H 452 

Dooley,  James  C 210 

Dorney,  Maurice  J 796 

Dowling,  John  M 545 

Downey,  Joseph 38 

Doyle,  Austin  J 90 

Doyle,  James  M 587 

Doyle,   Patrick 252 


805 


806 


INDEX. 


Page. 

Duffy,  Joseph  J 218 

Duncan,  James  W 458 

Dunne,   Edward  F 543 

Dunne,  Michael  J 538 

Dwyer,  Edward  J 522 

Egan,  Edward  H 243 

Egan,  James  J 739 

Ennis,  Lawrence  M 516 

Enright,  John  W 202 

Bwing,  William  G 580 

Fagan,  Thomas  J 723 

Fanning,  Charles  A 277 

Fanning,  Michael  F 593 

Farley,  John  W 286 

Farrelly,  James  J 285 

Feehan,  Patrick  A 5 

Feeney,  Patrick  C 272 

Ffrench,  Charles 642 

Finerty,  John  F 24 

Fitzgerald,  Henry  J 638 

Fitzpatrick,  Patrick  V 447 

Fitzsimmons,  Michael  J 575 

Flanagan,  Patrick  B 689 

Flinn,   John  J 282 

Foley,  William  C 266 

Foley,   W.   M 749 

Fowler,  Anderson. 547 

Gallagher,  Michael  F 332 

Gallery,  Daniel  J 435 

Galligan,  Thomas  F 589 

Gannon,  Michael  V 114 

Gannon,  Richard  C 294 

Garrity,  Patrick  L 406 

Garvy,  William  J 334 

Gaynor,  John 316 

Gearon,  Michael  B 330 

Gibbons,  Walter  J 599 

Glennon,  Edward  T 583 

Greene,    John 786 

Gubbins,  John  J 315 

Gunning,   Robert  J 581 

Hagan,  James  M 778 

Hall,  Thomas  C 595 

Hanecy,  Elbridge 68 

Hannan,   John 505 

Hanney,  Patrick  M 212 


Page. 

Hartigan,  Thomas  L 236 

Hartnett,  James 44 

Hayes,  Frederick  W.  C 651 

Hayes,    Michael 600 

Healy,  Patrick  J 597 

Hendricks,  John  C 235 

Henely,  Lawrence 153 

Hennessy,  John  J 219 

Hennessy,  Peter  J. 774 

Hereley,  Millard  B 603 

Hereley,  William   M 602 

Hill,  Fremont 144 

Hogan,  James  A 154 

Hogan,    Martin 793 

Hogan,  Thomas  S 416 

Hopkins,   John  P 634 

Hoyne,  Frank  G 86 

Hunt,  Nicholas 627 

Hunt,  Thomas  F. '318 

Kurd,  Harvey  B 138 

Hurley,   Timothy   D 60 

Hyland,  Jeremiah  S 708 

Hynes,   William   J 721 

Jeffery,    John    B 450 

Jemison,  John  N 611 

Joyce,  Joseph 443 

Kavanagh,  Jr.,  Marcus 356 

Keane,  Michael  J 110 

Keating,  John  T 134 

Keeley,  William  E...... 293 

Kehoe,  Miles 226 

Kelley,  Thomas  H 228 

Kelly,  James  J 306 

Kelly,  James  J 170 

Kelly,  Michael  J 637 

Kelly,  Patrick  F 706 

Kelly,  Thomas 222 

Kenney,  Thomas  A 253 

Kincade,  James 244 

Kinsella,  John  J 703 

Lahiff,  Edmund  M 732 

Langan,  Michael 461 

Law,   Jr.,   William . . . '. 614 

Lynch,  John  A 59 

McCarthy,  John 617 

McClaughry,  Charles  C 626 


INDEX. 


807 


Page. 

McClory,  Frederick  S 446 

McConnell,  Samuel  P 620 

McCormick,  Joseph  A 421 

McElherne,  Daniel  J 336 

McEnerny,  James 463 

McEnerny,   Michael    F 605 

McGarry ,  James 488 

McGarry,   Patrick 432 

McGee,   Michael   G 467 

McGillen,  John 70 

McGlasson,  Oscar  B 23 

McGoorty,   Johu   P 112 

McGrath,  Michael  H 198 

McHugh,  Patrick 454 

McLaughlin,  James  B 606 

McNamara,  Mark  J 731 

McShane,   James   C 92 

Madden,   Mark   F 394 

Madden,  Martin  B 713 

Madden,   Michael  S 518 

Madigan,  Patrick  Q 613 

Madigan,  Michael  D 608 

Magee,  Charles  J 441 

Maginn,  Bernard  B 777 

Maguire,  Patrick  G 590 

Maher,  James 402 

Mahoney,  David  J 392 

Mahoney,  George  W 422 

Mahoney,  James 693 

Mahoney,  John  J 502 

Mahoney,  John  J 465 

Mahoney,  John  J 656 

Mahoney,   Thomas 718 

Mahoney,  Joseph  P 36 

Mahoney,  Charles  L 268 

Medill,   Joseph 742 

Melody,   Thomas  R 258 

Melville,  Willis 655 

Moloney,  Maurice  T 746 

Moran,  Thomas  A 684 

Morgan,  Francis  H 472 

Morrison,  James   D 424 

Muldoon,  P.  J '. 186 

Mullay ,  Thomas  H 288 

Mullen,   James   J 430 

Mullin,  John 609 


Page. 

Mulvihill,   Thomas 412 

Murphy,  Francis  T 758 

Murphy,  Henry  T 440 

Murphy,    John    D 704 

Murphy,  Michael  W 74 

Murray,  Bernard  P 711 

Musham,  William  H 513 

Naghten,  John 468 

Neagle,  Francis  C 475 

Neagle,  John  F 623 

Noon,   Michael 499 

O'Brien,  John 340 

O'Brien,  Martin 322 

O'Connell,  Andrew  J 484 

O'Connell,  John 335 

O'Connell,   Thomas 675 

O'Connor,  Benjamin  F 500 

O'Connor,  Maurice  M 762 

O'Donnell,    Joseph    A 98 

O'Donnell,   Simon 508 

O'Grady,  R.   P 576 

O'Hara,  John  M 480 

O'Keeffe,  Patrick  J 298 

O'Malley,  Thomas  F 364 

O'Neill,  David  L 342 

O'Neill,  Francis 308 

O'Neill,   Hugh 691 

O'Sullivan,  Timothy 794 

O'Toole,  James  J 361 

O'Toole,  Luke 677 

Onahan,  William  J 779 

Owens,  John  J 477 

Peevey,  James 351 

Philbin,  Jr.,  John  J 104 

Powers,  Henry 345 

Printy ,  James  A 380 

Qualey,  John  A 696 

Quin,  William  J 722 

Quinlan,  Daniel  B 384 

Quinn,  James  F 382 

Quinn,  Michael  J 404 

Quinn,   Richard 390 

Rafferty,  Joseph  P 363 

Ramsay,  D.   G 700 

Rend,  William  P 524 

Reilly,  John  J 353 


SOX 


Page. 

Revell,  Alexander  H 532 

Rice,  P.  H 159 

Roche,  John   A 755 

Rogers,  Philip  M 95 

Rohan,  Andrew 496 

Rowan,  Thomas 248 

Russell,  Dennis  P 355 

Russell,   Martin  J 756 

Ryan,  Andrew  J 373 

Ryan,  Edmund  P 376 

Ryan,  James  J 512 

Ryan,  James  J 592 

Ryan,   Michael 343 

Ryan,   Timothy   E 801 

Scales,  Frank 744 

Scanlan,  Frank  T 725 

Scanlan,  John  F 366 

Scanlan,  Kickham 76 

Scanlan,  Mortimer  J 15 

Scanlan,  Thomas 667 

Scott,    Robert    S 750 

Sexton,  Austin  0 654 

Sexton,  John 640 

Sexton,  Patrick  J 633 


Page. 

Shanahan,  David  E 802 

Sheahan,  John  S 658 

Sheridan,  Thomas  F 386 

Smyth,  John  M , 10 

Smyth,  Thomas  A 208 

Sullivan,   David 123 

Sullivan,  Dennis  W 490 

Sullivan,  John  K 504 

Sullivan,   Michael 507 

Sullivan,  William  K 629 

Swenie,  John  J 770 

Tyrrell,  Patrick  D 396 

Touhy,  Patrick  L 374 

Tuohy,  James  W 540 

Wall,   Patrick  J 479 

Walsh,  Edward  J 124 

Walsh,  James   J 489 

Walsh,  John  F 483 

Walsh,  John  R ; . .  760 

Walsh,  John  W 485 

Walsh,  Robert  J 707 

Ward,  James  R 494 

Waterloo,  Stanley 754 

Welch,   P.   H 487 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 

977.30049162B52  C001 

BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  AMERICAN  IRI 


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